: The lower half of the stalk is a distinct shiny, reddish-brown or blackish color, while the upper half (the rachis) transitions to green.
: It prefers very acidic, thin soil (pH 3.5–5.0) in exposed, often sunny rock fissures. Because it thrives in such hostile conditions where other plants cannot grow, it faces little competition from more aggressive species. Conservation Status
: It is found from New Jersey and Pennsylvania south to Georgia and Alabama, and west into the Ozarks of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. bradley's spleenwort
Bradley's spleenwort - Illinois Department of Natural Resources
( Asplenium bradleyi ) is a rare, small evergreen fern found primarily in the east-central United States. Named after Professor Frank Howe Bradley, who first discovered it in Tennessee in 1871, it typically thrives in the specialized, harsh environment of acidic rock crevices on sandstone or granite cliffs. Key Characteristics & Identification : The lower half of the stalk is
: Research suggests that Bradley’s spleenwort has actually "formed" multiple times in different locations from independent hybridization events between its parent species. Habitat and Distribution
: Its fronds are relatively small, typically ranging from 4 to 20 cm (about 1.5 to 8 inches) in length. Conservation Status : It is found from New
: It is listed as endangered in states like Illinois , Indiana, and Pennsylvania, and threatened in Ohio .