Wild Urban Ferns #3

Ebony Spleenwort

This is the most common "wild urban fern" you are likely to find on old stone walls. Ebony Spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron) can often be found growing beautifully on the walls of old cemeteries where there is still some mortar between the stones. This location is in Shutesbury MA. Shelburne Center MA also has an especially lovely display of the Ebony Spleenworts on their old cemetery wall as well.

When I first noticed the Ebony Spleenworts growing on this stone wall many years ago I only counted 13. Last time we counted this summer it was over 80! There are at least 12 different Ebony Spleenwort plants in this photo alone. The fertile fronds are the tall upright ones which fade in the winter, while the sterile smaller more horizontal fronds are evergreen. If you get a chance, take a look at the sori or fruit dots on the back of the fertile fronds. They are really lovely!

Sometimes in older cemeteries where grasses and mosses are alllowed to grow instead of lawn you may also find Dissected (or Cut-Leaf) Grape Ferns (Sceptridium dissectum). This is the time of year to be looking for both these ferns in the older and less manicured cemeteries, although this does not appear to be a good year for Grape Ferns in general.

Happy Ferning!

9/27/24