Asplenium

• Choose this species
  A. rhizophyllum

  1a. Leaf blades simple, frequently rooting at the tip; venation reticulate; sori irregularly scattered over the blade
• See list of 5 species in 1b
  CHOOSE THIS LEAD

  1b. Leaf blades 1- to 3-times divided [Figs. 17,18], not rooting at the tip; venation free 
(i.e., the veins not rejoining); sori in paired rows on the leaflets
  • See list of 2 species in 2a
    CHOOSE THIS LEAD

    2a. At least the larger leaflets divided into leafules [Figs. 17,18]; leaf blades deltate 
or deltate-ovate to lanceolate or obovate, with 2–10 pairs of leaflets
    • Choose this species
      A. ruta-muraria

      3a. Leaf blades usually with 2–5 pairs of leaflets [Fig. 18], dull blue-green in life; leaflets mostly rhombic to obtriangular-obovate
    • Choose this species
      A. montanum

      3b. Leaf blades usually with (4–) 5–10 pairs of leaflets [Fig. 17], shiny green in life; leaflets triangular-lanceolate to triangular-ovate
  • See list of 3 species in 2b
    CHOOSE THIS LEAD

    2b. None of the leaflets divided; leaf blades linear to narrow-oblanceolate, with (6–) 15–45 pairs of leaflets
    • Choose this species
      A. platyneuron

      4a. Leaves dimorphic—the fertile erect and tall, the sterile prostrate or arching and short; leaflets with a basal auricle
    • See list of 2 species in 4b
      CHOOSE THIS LEAD

      4b. Leaves monomorphic; leaflets without a basal auricle
      • Choose this species
        A. trichomanes

        5a. Rachis red-brown to nearly black throughout; leaflets oblong to oval, the middle ones 2.5–4 mm wide (i.e., measured parallel with the leaf axis); petioles 0.15–0.25 times the length of the blade
      • Choose this species
        A. viride

        5b. Rachis green; leaflets deltate to rhombic, the middle ones 4–5 mm wide; petioles 0.25–0.5 (–1) times the length of the blade

Show All Couplets

 Show photos of:   Each photo represents one species in this genus.