Fauna
Plant

Black-stem Spleenwort

Asplenium resiliens

Also 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
Black-stem Spleenwort reference1 / 7
(c) Sam Kieschnick, some rights reserved (CC BY) / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, 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)
Classification
  1. FamilyAspleniaceae
  2. SpeciesAsplenium resiliens
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. 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.
Related species
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