Asplenium platyneuron

(L.) B.S.P.

Ebony Spleenwort

G5Secure Found in 74 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.155256
Element CodePPASP02110
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 ébène (FR) ebony 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
The treatment of Asplenium platyneuron in Weakley et al. (2024) finds that var. bacculum-rubrum and var. incisum are probably not worthy of taxonomic recognition. Flora of North America (vol. 2, 1993) also includes them in synonymy.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2023-09-26
Change Date1984-01-19
Edition Date2023-09-26
Edition AuthorsGeoffrey Hall (1998), rev. C. Nordman (2023).
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron) occurs in eastern North America, with disjunct occurrences in New Mexico, Arizona, South Africa, and Slovakia. Range extent was estimated to be 32 million square kilometers, and there are estimated to be more than 5000 occurrences, including on various National Forests, National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, State Parks, State Wildlife Management Areas, and other conservation lands. It is an ecological generalist and is particularly characteristic of disturbed woodlands.
Range Extent Comments
Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron) occurs in eastern North America, from New Brunswick, Maine, southern Quebec and southern Ontario, west to southeastern Minnesota, eastern Kansas, and south to Florida and central Texas, with disjunct occurrences in New Mexico, Arizona, South Africa, and Slovakia. Range extent was estimated to be 32 million square kilometers, using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1992 and 2023 (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993, GBIF 2023, iNaturalist 2023, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2023).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, and photo-based observations data documented between 1992 and 2023, it is estimated that there are over 5000 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2023, iNaturalist 2023).
Threat Impact Comments
Fragmentation and loss of habitat due to development is a threat, but with low impact overall.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Asplenium platyneuron is an ecological generalist and is particularly characteristic of disturbed woodlands, also in old fields, and on outcrops, especially of calcareous rocks and in masonry crevices, at up to 1300 meters elevation (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2023).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandOld fieldBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
IllinoisS5Yes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
FloridaS3Yes
DelawareS5Yes
NebraskaS3Yes
GeorgiaS5Yes
WisconsinSNRYes
District of ColumbiaSNRYes
North CarolinaS5Yes
TexasSNRYes
Rhode IslandS2Yes
MarylandSNRYes
MississippiS5Yes
South CarolinaS5Yes
ConnecticutSNRYes
New HampshireSNRYes
New JerseySNRYes
IowaS4Yes
New YorkS5Yes
New MexicoSNRYes
MichiganSNRYes
LouisianaSNRYes
AlabamaSNRYes
MassachusettsSNRYes
OklahomaSNRYes
ArizonaS1Yes
West VirginiaS5Yes
KansasS4Yes
MinnesotaS3Yes
ArkansasSNRYes
MaineS2Yes
MissouriSNRYes
TennesseeSNRYes
VermontS4Yes
ColoradoS2Yes
VirginiaS5Yes
IndianaS5Yes
KentuckyS5Yes
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
QuebecS2Yes
New BrunswickSUYes
OntarioS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentSmall (1-10%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areasSmall (1-10%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
1.2 - Commercial & industrial areasSmall (1-10%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (74)
Alabama (1)
AreaForestAcres
Blue MountainTalladega National Forest4,986
Arkansas (7)
AreaForestAcres
Blue MountainOuachita National Forest9,755
Dismal CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest9,160
East ForkOzark-St. Francis National Forest13,037
Gee CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest7,957
Little BlakelyOuachita National Forest3,342
Pedestal RocksOzark-St. Francis National Forest21,957
Richland CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest571
Georgia (6)
AreaForestAcres
Boggs CreekChattahoochee National Forest2,073
Helton CreekChattahoochee National Forest2,348
Joe GapChattahoochee National Forest5,321
Kelly RidgeChattahoochee National Forest8,325
Miller CreekChattahoochee National Forest701
Sarah's CreekChattahoochee National Forest6,888
Illinois (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bay CreekShawnee National Forest120
Indiana (1)
AreaForestAcres
Mogan RidgeHoosier National Forest8,435
Kentucky (1)
AreaForestAcres
WolfpenDaniel Boone National Forest2,835
Louisiana (1)
AreaForestAcres
Saline Bayou W & S River CorridorKisatchie National Forest5,355
North Carolina (19)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Barkers Creek (addition)Nantahala National Forest975
Big Indian (addition)Nantahala National Forest1,155
Boteler PeakNantahala National Forest4,205
Catfish Lake NorthCroatan National Forest11,299
Cheoah BaldNantahala National Forest7,795
Cherry Cove (addition)Nantahala National Forest836
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Harper CreekPisgah National Forest7,325
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Pond Pine BCroatan National Forest2,961
Sam Knob (addition)Pisgah National Forest2,576
Sheep Ridge AdditionCroatan National Forest5,808
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
Wilson CreekPisgah National Forest4,863
Woods MountainPisgah National Forest9,602
Yellowhammer Branch (add.)Nantahala National Forest1,255
Oklahoma (1)
AreaForestAcres
Beech CreekOuachita National Forest8,303
South Carolina (1)
AreaForestAcres
Wambaw ExtFrancis Marion National Forest527
Tennessee (9)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Bald River Gorge AdditionCherokee National Forest1,728
Beaver Dam CreekCherokee National Forest5,070
Big Laurel Branch AdditionCherokee National Forest5,577
Brushy RidgeCherokee National Forest7,469
Devil's BackboneCherokee National Forest4,287
London Bridge BranchCherokee National Forest3,387
Sampson Mountain AdditionCherokee National Forest3,064
Stone MountainCherokee National Forest5,367
Virginia (22)
AreaForestAcres
Adams PeakGeorge Washington National Forest7,135
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Beaver Dam CreekJefferson National Forest1,135
Broad RunJefferson National Forest10,971
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Brush Mountain EastJefferson National Forest4,916
JerkemtightGeorge Washington National Forest16,687
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
Little AlleghanyGeorge Washington National Forest10,215
Little Walker MountainJefferson National Forest9,818
Mountain Lake Addition AJefferson National Forest1,469
New London Bridge BranchJefferson National Forest844
North MountainJefferson National Forest8,377
Northern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest9,444
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
Oliver MountainGeorge Washington National Forest13,090
Patterson MountainJefferson National Forest4,865
Price MountainJefferson National Forest9,119
Ramseys Draft AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest12,781
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
Southern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest11,985
Three RidgesGeorge Washington National Forest4,745
West Virginia (4)
AreaForestAcres
Canaan LoopMonongahela National Forest7,867
Dolly Sods Roaring PlainMonongahela National Forest13,392
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
North Mountain HopevilleMonongahela National Forest6,525
References (6)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1993a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 2. Pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xvi + 475 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2023. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2023).
  3. iNaturalist. 2023. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2023).
  4. 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.
  5. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2023. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of April 14, 2023. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2105 pp.
  6. 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.