Ferns and Fern Allies in the Canberra RegionAsplenium trichomanes - Common Spleenwort
It appears to require alkaline soils. Most of the soils around Canberra are acidic, so it finds few suitable environments. It grows in abundance here in association with limestone outcrops: the rock in the photograph above is limestone. There are several limestone provinces in the Canberra region - for example around Wee Jasper, Wyanbene and Bungonia, and it may well be locally common in these areas. The fern itself is common around
the world. It is superficially similar to Asplenium flabellifolium (Necklace
Fern) which is very widespread in the Canberra region. It differs from Necklace
Fern in that it does not exhibit proliferous tips, it has dark, near-black stipes
and grows in a rosette rather than in a scrambling form. This image shows the under side
of the frond, the dark stipes and the characteristic Asplenium spore patterns.
Each pinnule is about 6mm (1/4") long. Given adequate lime in the soil,
it is very easy to grow domestically, though as a small and rather inconspicuous
fern, it may be of specialist interest only.
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Asplenium trichomanes is not at all common in the Canberra region. We have
found it only in one location so far. The specimen shown opposite is about 15
cm (6") across.
Its most obvious distinguishing
characteristic in this area is its strong association with limestone.
