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Asplenium trichomanes

L.

Maidenhair Spleenwort

G5Secure Found in 74 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.129841
Element CodePPASP021K0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumFilicinophyta
ClassFilicopsida
OrderFilicales
FamilyAspleniaceae
GenusAsplenium
Other Common Names
Doradille chevelue (FR) maidenhair spleenwort (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
This record is for the broad treatment of Asplenium trichomanes, including A. trichomanes var. quadrivalens, as recognized by Meyer et al. in FNA (1993, vol. 2). Weakley et al. (2024) recognize A. trichomanes more narrowly, excluding A. quadrivalens as a distinct species.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-09-27
Change Date1984-02-09
Edition Date2024-09-27
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Asplenium trichomanes is a fern occurring nearly worldwide on acidic rocks such as sandstone, granite, and basalt, and on calcareous rocks such as dolomite and limestone. In North America, it occurs from Alaska south to California, and throughout most of the United States and eastern Canada. There are several thousand occurrences of this species, which are threatened by recreation (including off-road vehicles), invasive species, timber harvest, flooding and storm surge, rights-of-way maintenance, and other threats in some places. Little is known about threats or trends, but with a large range extent, high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, Asplenium trichomanes is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Asplenium trichomanes is an interruptedly circumboreal species, occurring as a native species worldwide (FNA 1993). In North America, it occurs from Alaska south to California, and throughout most of the United States and eastern Canada. Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024). See individual entries for distribution details about the two subspecies in North America.
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, there are estimated to be several thousand occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Asplenium trichomanes is threatened by recreation (including off-road vehicles), invasive species, timber harvest, flooding and storm surge, rights-of-way maintenance, and other threats in some places (NatureServe 2024). However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Maidenhair Spleenwort is a perennial with short rhizomes and glabrous, evergreen fronds clustered from the base of the plant. Each frond is 7-35 cm long, and is pinnately divided into numerous pinnae that are arranged alternately on the shiny, reddish-brown central axis (rachis) of the frond. The naked petioles and central axes tend to persist after the pinnae have fallen; each pinna is 5 mm wide and entire-margined below, but shallowly lobed toward the tip. Spores are borne in 1-4 clusters arranged along the veins on the undersides of the pinnae; the spores are partially enfolded by a thin, white tissue, the indusium.

Diagnostic Characteristics

This species can be distinguished from the more common A. VIRIDE by its shiny, reddish-brown leaf stems.

Habitat

Asplenium trichomanes occurs on acidic rocks such as sandstone, granite, and basalt, and on calcareous rocks such as dolomite and limestone (FNA 1993). Nearby associated species include Oplopanax horridum, Asarum caudatum, Athyrium filix-femina, and Disporum hookeri (Lorain 1989).

Reproduction

Asplenium trichomanes can reproduce asexually by rhizomes (Lellinger 1985).
Terrestrial Habitats
Bare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
Island of NewfoundlandS1Yes
QuebecSNRYes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
Nova ScotiaS3Yes
OntarioS4Yes
New BrunswickS3Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
TexasS1Yes
MassachusettsSNRYes
ArizonaSNRYes
IllinoisS2Yes
DelawareS1Yes
VirginiaS5Yes
WisconsinS2Yes
WyomingS1Yes
NebraskaSNRYes
ConnecticutSNRYes
New YorkSNRYes
Rhode IslandS2Yes
VermontSNRYes
AlaskaS2Yes
New JerseySNRYes
MissouriSNRYes
District of ColumbiaSNRYes
West VirginiaS5Yes
MississippiS1Yes
LouisianaSXYes
WashingtonSNRYes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
UtahS1Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
AlabamaS2Yes
MarylandSNRYes
OklahomaSNRYes
GeorgiaS5Yes
HawaiiSNRYes
MinnesotaS2Yes
North CarolinaS4Yes
OregonSNRYes
MontanaSHYes
ArkansasSNRYes
ColoradoS3Yes
MaineSNRYes
TennesseeSNRYes
South DakotaS3Yes
KentuckySNRYes
South CarolinaS2Yes
IdahoS1Yes
MichiganSNRYes
KansasSNRYes
New MexicoSNRYes
FloridaSHYes
IndianaS4Yes
OhioSNRYes
New HampshireSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
4 - Transportation & service corridorsUnknownUnknownUnknown
5 - Biological resource useUnknownUnknownUnknown
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingUnknownUnknownUnknown
5.3.5 - Motivation unknown/unrecordedUnknownUnknownUnknown
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceUnknownUnknownUnknown
6.1 - Recreational activitiesUnknownUnknownUnknown
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesUnknownUnknownUnknown
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesUnknownUnknownUnknown
8.1.1 - Unspecified speciesUnknownUnknownUnknown
11 - Climate change & severe weatherUnknownUnknownUnknown
11.4 - Storms & floodingUnknownUnknownUnknown

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, EVERGREEN
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (74)
Alaska (4)
AreaForestAcres
KekuTongass National Forest10,869
KosciuskoTongass National Forest64,134
North KupreanofTongass National Forest114,660
SecurityTongass National Forest31,428
Arizona (5)
AreaForestAcres
Barbershop CanyonCoconino National Forest1,311
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
East Clear CreekCoconino National Forest1,613
Lower RinconCoronado National Forest3,278
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
Arkansas (2)
AreaForestAcres
Gee CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest7,957
Richland CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest571
Georgia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Sarah's CreekChattahoochee National Forest6,888
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
North Lochsa SlopeNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest117,662
Illinois (1)
AreaForestAcres
Burke BranchShawnee National Forest6,231
Michigan (2)
AreaForestAcres
Government IslandHiawatha National Forest225
Norwich Plains Revised Roadless AreaOttawa National Forest4,360
New Hampshire (1)
AreaForestAcres
KilkennyWhite Mountain National Forest28,766
New Mexico (5)
AreaForestAcres
Cruces BasinCarson National Forest5,244
GallinasSanta Fe National Forest13,208
Guaje CanyonSanta Fe National Forest6,104
Hell HoleGila National Forest19,553
RendijaSanta Fe National Forest2,176
North Carolina (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Balsam ConePisgah National Forest10,591
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
Yellowhammer Branch (add.)Nantahala National Forest1,255
Oregon (4)
AreaForestAcres
Bull Of The WoodsMt. Hood National Forest8,843
EagleMt. Hood National Forest16,841
LarchMt. Hood National Forest12,961
Opal CreekWillamette National Forest5,417
Tennessee (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Beaver Dam CreekCherokee National Forest5,070
Flint Mill GapCherokee National Forest9,494
Rogers RidgeCherokee National Forest4,738
Sampson Mountain AdditionCherokee National Forest3,064
Slide HollowCherokee National Forest4,057
Virginia (14)
AreaForestAcres
Adams PeakGeorge Washington National Forest7,135
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Beaver Dam CreekJefferson National Forest1,135
Broad RunJefferson National Forest10,971
JerkemtightGeorge Washington National Forest16,687
Laurel ForkGeorge Washington National Forest9,967
North Fork PoundJefferson National Forest4,757
Northern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest9,444
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
Patterson MountainJefferson National Forest4,865
Price MountainJefferson National Forest9,119
Ramseys Draft AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest12,781
Rogers RunJefferson National Forest181
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
Washington (16)
AreaForestAcres
Abercrombie - HooknoseColville National Forest33,862
Boulder RiverMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest32,563
Eagle RockMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest34,064
Glacier Peak JMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest26,482
Glacier Peak KMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest47,269
Glacier Peak LMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest14,084
Jefferson RidgeOlympic National Forest6,512
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
LightningOlympic National Forest7,179
Mt. Baker MaMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest24,847
Mt. Baker Noisy - DiobsudMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest56,039
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
Mt. Baker WestMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest25,390
Salmo - Priest BColville National Forest11,869
South QuinaultOlympic National Forest11,081
Upper SkokomishOlympic National Forest9,311
West Virginia (7)
AreaForestAcres
Cranberry AdditionMonongahela National Forest11,123
Dry ForkMonongahela National Forest657
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
Falls Of Hills CreekMonongahela National Forest6,925
Laurel ForkMonongahela National Forest1,172
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
North Mountain HopevilleMonongahela National Forest6,525
References (19)
  1. Caicco, S. L. 1987. Field investigations of selected sensitive plant species on the Clearwater National Forest. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Conservation Data Center, Boise. 21 pp. plus appendices.
  2. Coffin, B., and L. Pfannmuller, editors. 1988. Minnesota's endangered flora and fauna. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 473 pp.
  3. Flora of North America Editorial Committee. 1993a. Flora of North America, Volume 2: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. Oxford University Press, New York.
  4. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  5. Hitchcock, C.L., A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J.W. Thompson. 1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. Part 1: Vascular cryptogams, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Univ. Washington Press, Seattle. 914 pp.
  6. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  7. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  8. Klinka, K., V.J. Krajina, A. Ceska, and A.M. Scagel. 1989. Indicator Plants of Coastal British Columbia. UBC Press, Vancouver. 288 pp.
  9. Lellinger, D.B. 1985. A field manual of the ferns and fern-allies of the U.S. and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. 389 pp.
  10. Lorain, C. C. 1989. Field investigations of three Region 1 sensitive species on the Clearwater National Forest: <i>Asplenium trichomanes</i> (Maidenhair spleenwort), <i>Thelypteris nevadensis</i> (Sierra woodfern), and <i>Dodecatheon hendersonii </i>(Henderson's shooting star); plus new locations for additional sensitive species. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Conservation Data Center, Boise. 19 pp. plus apendices.
  11. Lorain, C. C. 1991b. Action plan for sensitive plant species on the Clearwater National Forest. Unpublished report. 63 pp. plus appendices.
  12. Lovis, J. D. 1964. The taxonomy of <i>Asplenium trichomanes</i> in Europe. British Fern Gazette 9: 147-160.
  13. Moran, R. C. 1982. The <i>Asplenium trichomanes</i> complex in the United States and adjacent Canada. American Fern Journal 72(1):5-11.
  14. NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  15. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  16. Szerdahelyi, T. 1984. Rare ferns of Hungary. III. The establishment of fern species in a planted pine forest. Studia Botanica Hungarica. 17: 15-22.
  17. Vanbianchi, R., and S. J. Wagstaff. 1988. A floristic survey of Big Beaver Valley. Douglasia Occasional Papers [publication of the Washington Native Plant Society]. 3: 1-61.
  18. Wagner, W. H., Jr., D. R. Farrar, and B. W. McAlpin. 1970. Pteridology of the Highlands Biological Station area, southern Appalachians. J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 86:1-27.
  19. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2024. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of March 4, 2024. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2203 pp.