Harts Tongue Fern Asplenium scolopendrium

Scientific Name: Asplenium scolopendrium (Aspleniaceae). 'Scolopendrium' means 'centipede' and refers to the pattern the spores make on the back of the leaves, looking like centipede legs.


English Name: Harts Tongue Fern (Spleenwort family). A 'hart' is another name for 'stag' or male Red Deer.


French Name: Scolopendre (='centipede'); Langue de cerf (='stag tongue').

5 Key Characters:

• long leaves reminiscent of tongues, 10 - 60 cm long and 3 - 6 cm wide.
• grows on limestone, in the shade.
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

Lookalikes:

Habitat: Limestone and neutral substrate, in the shade. Damp rocks, old walls, wells.


Status: Abundant. The species is native to the Touraine and Berry (indeed, the whole of France), but is often also grown as a garden cultivar. A folk remedy used as a spleen tonic.

Photographed by Loire Valley Nature:

Rustyback - Ceterach officinarum

Scientific Name: Ceterach officinarum (Aspleniaceae). Syn Asplenium ceterach.

English Name: Rustyback; Arabian Ceterach; Common Spleenwort; Finger Fern; Miltwaste; Scale Fern (Spleenwort family).


French Name: Le Cétérac; le Cétérac officinal; le Cétérach; le Cétérach officinal; la Doradille.

5 Key Characters:

• fronds covered in rust coloured scales underneath.
• small evergreen fern.
• dark green leathery fronds.
• favours old limestone walls.
• often growing in full sun.
  

Lookalikes: Maidenhair Spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes, which is a more delicate looking plant, with blackish frond stalks and slightly toothed pinnae ('leaflets').


Habitat: Rocks, old walls, limestone, mortar, often in full sun.



Status: Uncommon.


Photographed by Loire Valley Nature: