Asplenium ruta-muraria — wall-rue spleenwort
![Leaf: Asplenium ruta-muraria. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Aspleniaceae/asplenium-ruta-muraria-le-ahaines-b.jpg)
![Leaf: Asplenium ruta-muraria. ~ By Elizabeth Farnsworth. ~ Copyright © 2024 New England Wild Flower Society. ~ Image Request, images[at]newenglandwild.org](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Aspleniaceae/asplenium-ruta-muraria-le-efarnsworth.jpg)
![Plant form: Asplenium ruta-muraria. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Aspleniaceae/asplenium-ruta-muraria-ha-ahaines-c.jpg)
![Plant form: Asplenium ruta-muraria. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2024 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com:443/taxon-images-1000s1000/Aspleniaceae/asplenium-ruta-muraria-ha-ahaines-a.jpg)
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Facts
Wall-rue spleenwort is found in Appalachia and New England as well as parts of Europe and Asia. In our area it is confined to western New England (with a disjunct population in Rhode Island), where it inhabits high-pH rocks and cliffs. In some places it also invades masonry walls.
Habitat
Cliffs, balds, or ledges, ridges or ledges
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.
enlargeCharacteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Vermont
-
Leaves
- Features of leaves
- there are no special features on the leaves
-
Place
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Vermont
- Specific habitat
-
- cliffs, balds, or ledges
- ridges or ledges
Wetland status
Not classified
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- absent
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- absent
- Rhode Island
- present
- Vermont
- present
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Connecticut
- rare (S-rank: S2), threatened (code: T)
- Massachusetts
- rare (S-rank: S2), threatened (code: T)
- Vermont
- uncommon to fairly widespread (S-rank: S3S4)
var. cryptolepis
- Connecticut
- unranked (S-rank: SNR)
- Massachusetts
- unranked (S-rank: SNR)
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
4. Asplenium ruta-muraria L. NC
wall-rue spleenwort. Asplenium cryptolepis Fern.; A. ruta-muraria L. var. cryptolepis (Fern.) Wherry • CT, MA, RI, VT; primarily western New England, the RI occurrence very disjunct. High-pH rocks and cliffs.
4×5. Asplenium ruta-muraria × Asplenium trichomanes → Asplenium ×clermontae Syme is an extremely rare spleenwort hybrid known from VT. It resembles A. trichomanes in general outline (i.e., it has once-pinnately compound leaf blades), but the leaflets are lobed (especially the larger ones) and the rachis is green (rather than brown-red to black-brown).
Native to North America?
Yes
Sometimes confused with
Synonyms
- Asplenium cryptolepis Fern.
- Asplenium ruta-muraria L. var. cryptolepis (Fern.) Wherry