Distinguishing it from its parents requires a close look at the fronds:
Unlike many hybrids that are sterile, Asplenium pinnatifidum is a fertile . It originated from a natural cross between two other ferns: asplenium pinnatifidum
( Asplenium montanum ): Contributes the deeply lobed leaf structure. Distinguishing it from its parents requires a close
: Its fronds narrow into a long, slender point, a trait inherited from the Walking Fern. asplenium pinnatifidum
While nowhere is it "common," the Lobed Spleenwort is most prevalent in the Appalachian region . It has also been documented in: Asplenium - In Defense of Plants
: It remains green year-round, making it easier to spot on rocky outcrops during the winter months.