Rustyback - Asplenium ceterach

Fronds 3-20 cm long. Back of frond covered with rust-coloured scales. Spores in elliptical bundles along the veins, hidden by the scales. The leaves are thick, leathery and persist through the winter. They are almost, but not wholly, pinnately divided.

Limestone rocks, rock crevices and stone walls, particularly mortared walls.

All year round.

It is drought resistant and will curl its fronds inwards so that only the brownish surface is visible.

Found mainly in southern Britain, particularly the south-west.

Occasional in Leicestershire & Rutland.   Recorded in 13 tetrads in the Flora of Leicestershire (Primavesi and Evans 1988)

It was on the 2011 VC55 Rare Plant Register (Jeeves, 2011) but it appears to be increasing its range, and is found in more sites than previously -  and therefore no longer meets the criteria for inclusion on the current RPR (Hall and Woodward, 2022)