Plant · GBIF taxon 2650631
Black-stem Spleenwort
Asplenium resiliensAlso known as Little Ebony Spleenwort, Blackstem Spleenwort
Black-stem spleenwort clings to shaded limestone bluffs and humid rock crevices, anchoring itself in mineral-rich alkaline substrates across the Americas. Its narrow, leathery fronds feature a striking jet-black to dark purple central stem that remains intact long after individual leaflets drop away. Because it is a sterile triploid, this resilient fern reproduces without fertilization, producing viable spores apogamously to colonize exposed rocky ledges.
CalciphileEvergreenRock-Dwelling
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Limestone minerals
Predators
- Snails
- Slugs
- Herbivorous insects
ThreatsQuarrying, habitat destruction, and rock-climbing disturbance
HabitatsLimestone cliffs, sinkholes, rocky ravines, and shaded outcrops
Life spanPerennial (decades via rhizome extension)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAspleniaceae
- SpeciesAsplenium resiliens
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Substrate check: Search exclusively on shaded limestone, dolomite, or alkaline rock faces.
- Rachis check: Look for the characteristic shiny black central stem that persists after leaflets fall.
Close Relative (c) Laura Clark, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Clark · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Genus Relative (c) Tom Norton, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tom Norton · cc-by
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