Asplenium bradleyi
Encyclopedia
Bradley's spleenwort, Asplenium bradleyi, is a rare rock fern
of the Appalachian area of eastern North America
. It is a species of hybrid origin. The parents are Asplenium montanum
and Asplenium platyneuron. The hybrid became a species with a doubling of the chromosome number, hence this species is tetraploid. While A. platyneuron is pH-tolerant, A. bradleyi needs a substrate at least as acidic as that needed by A. montanum, possibly more acid.
This fern is often confused with Asplenium pinnatifidum
, another hybrid species with montanum as one parent. Look for Bradley's spleenwort in sheltered crevices on exposed rock faces of granite or sandstone.
Acadia Cliffs State Nature Preserve
in Ohio
was acquired for preservation because of the Bradley's spleenwort found growing there. This is a state-listed species in Ohio.
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
of the Appalachian area of eastern North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. It is a species of hybrid origin. The parents are Asplenium montanum
Asplenium montanum
Asplenium montanum is commonly known as the mountain spleenwort, a simple reflection of the scientific name. It is a small but intricately divided fern of acid rocks. Typically, it grows in rock crevices into which moisture seeps from within the rock strata...
and Asplenium platyneuron. The hybrid became a species with a doubling of the chromosome number, hence this species is tetraploid. While A. platyneuron is pH-tolerant, A. bradleyi needs a substrate at least as acidic as that needed by A. montanum, possibly more acid.
This fern is often confused with Asplenium pinnatifidum
Asplenium pinnatifidum
Asplenium pinnatifidum is known as the lobed spleenwort or pinnatifid spleenwort. It is an Appalachian rock fern, growing in rock crevices in moderately acid to subacid strata. It is often confused with Asplenium bradleyi....
, another hybrid species with montanum as one parent. Look for Bradley's spleenwort in sheltered crevices on exposed rock faces of granite or sandstone.
Acadia Cliffs State Nature Preserve
Acadia Cliffs State Nature Preserve
Acadia Cliffs State Nature Preserve is a state nature preserve in Washington County, Ohio, United States, with a small neck extending into Athens County, Ohio. Covering an area of , it was founded in 1994. It is known for its sandstone cliffs. For a time, it was administered by the Ohio State...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
was acquired for preservation because of the Bradley's spleenwort found growing there. This is a state-listed species in Ohio.