Description
Asplenium – Spleenwort – Ceterach – Phyllitis
There are over 700 species of evergreen or semi-evergreen terrestrial and epiphytic ferns, in this genus. They are found in a wide range of habitats. They produce short erect, or creeping rhizomes that bear tufts of fronds, which may be feathery or bipinnate but could be unevenly divided. Some forms “bird’s nest” in which the fronds are smooth, un-lobed, un-toothed that overlap to form a nest, in which organic matter collects. Sori are linear and usually run parallel along the midribs towards the edge of the fronds. They’re great for many situations in wall crevices, rock gardens, shady border, woodland garden even as a houseplant.
When grown outdoors grow in humus rich, moist but well-drained soil with additional grit in partial shade. Divide in early spring.
Prone to scale insects, mealy bugs, deformation due to over fertilization, and bacterial leaf disease, and foliar nematodes can occur.
Asplenium trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens – Maidenhair Spleenwort – This terrestrial evergreen or semi-evergreen fern grows to 6” tall and spreads to 8” wide. From erect sometimes-creeping rhizomes produces narrowly lance shaped pinnate, dark green fronds usually 3-8” long on glossy black or dark brown stalks. Leaflets are distinctly stalked elliptic or oblong and squarish at the tips and close together. Prefers alkaline soil.
Zones 4-8
