Asplenium ruprechtii

Asplenium ruprechtii, which goes by the common name Asian Walking Fern, is a rare, hardy, low-lying fern native to East Asia. It is a close relative of Asplenium rhizophyllum[1] (syn: Camptosorus rhizophyllus[1]) which is found in North America and also goes by the common name of walking fern.[2] The species should not be confused with Asplenium sibiricum which is a synonym of Diplazium sibiricum.

Asplenium ruprechtii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Suborder: Aspleniineae
Family: Aspleniaceae
Genus: Asplenium
Species:
A. ruprechtii
Binomial name
Asplenium ruprechtii
Kurata
Synonyms
  • Antigramma sibirica (Rupr.) J.Sm.
  • Camptosorus sibiricus Rupr.
  • Phyllitis sibirica (Rupr.) Kuntze
  • Scolopendrium sibiricum (Rupr.) Hook.

Description

The name walking fern was derived from the way the fern spreads. The underside of each leaf contain sori, and when the tip of the leaf touches the ground, new planlets sprout, creating a "walking" effect.

The evergreen, undivided, slightly leathery leaves are triangular and taper to a thin point. Sori, the spore-bearing structures, are distributed in clusters along the veins on the underside of the leaves. The plant can be found in the shady areas of limestone ledges and in limy forest places. Asplenium ruprechtii is smaller than its relative, Asplenium rhizophyllum, and usually has cuneate bases to its fronds, whereas A. rhizophyllum usually has cordate frond bases.

References
  1. Wagner, Warren H., Jr.; Moran, Robbin C.; Werth, Charles R. (1993). "Asplenium rhizophyllum". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico. 2: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  2. Encyclopædia Britannica Online

Sources
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