Black Spleenwort - Asplenium adiantum-nigrum

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Description

Plant with short rhizome that produces tufts of firm, triangular, shiny, dark green evergreen fronds, 10 to 40 cm long that are once to three times pinnate and have long, glossy, purplish-black stalks.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Rock crevices and walls.

When to see it

Spores ripe June to October.

Life History

Perennial - evergreen.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

VC55 Status

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 61 of the 617 tetrads.

  • Graham Calow
    Cosby WMC Car Park
    16 May 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Bramble Walk, near Cosby
    01 June 2014
    underside
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    24 April 2006
  • Graham Calow
    Wykin
    12 May 2015

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Black Spleenwort
Species group:
Ferns & Horsetails
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Polypodiales
Family:
Aspleniaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
102
First record:
24/04/2006 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
12/03/2025 (Pugh, Dylan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

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Latest images

Latest records

  • Peter Smith
    Crescent St, Leicester
    10 October 2012
  • Graham Calow
    Bramble Walk, near Cosby
    01 June 2014
  • Alan Semper
    Harby Langar Lane wall
    25 October 2013
  • Alan Semper
    Harby Langar La wall
    28 July 2012
  • Graham Calow
    Witherley
    23 April 2015
  • Alan Semper
    Harby Langar La wall
    28 July 2012
  • Graham Calow
    Granitethorpe Quarry, Sapcote
    03 July 2008
  • Graham Calow
    Granitethorpe Quarry, Sapcote
    03 July 2008
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby Church
    24 December 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Aylestone Meadows
    26 February 2012
  • Alan Semper
    Harby Langar Lane wall
    25 October 2013
  • Graham Calow
    Main Street, Cosby
    04 April 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Wykin
    12 May 2015
  • Graham Calow
    Main Street, Cosby
    04 April 2016
  • David Nicholls
    Ketton Quarry
    26 May 2012