Asplenium Pinnatifidum [ iPhone Updated ]

( Asplenium montanum ): Contributes the deeply lobed leaf structure.

While nowhere is it "common," the Lobed Spleenwort is most prevalent in the Appalachian region . It has also been documented in: Asplenium - In Defense of Plants asplenium pinnatifidum

: It typically grows in small, dense clusters directly out of cracks in shaded, damp rock faces. Where to Find It ( Asplenium montanum ): Contributes the deeply lobed

Unlike many hybrids that are sterile, Asplenium pinnatifidum is a fertile . It originated from a natural cross between two other ferns: which has smooth-edged (entire) leaves

: Unlike the Walking Fern, which has smooth-edged (entire) leaves, the Lobed Spleenwort has distinct lobes along the entire length of its frond.

Distinguishing it from its parents requires a close look at the fronds: