Asplenium trichomanes : Green Slpeenwort

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Pteridophyta (spore bearing)

Class: Polypodopsida (fern class)

Family: Aspleniaceae (Speelnwort Family)

Genera: Asplenium (Spleenwort) (Gk. a=not + splenon=spllen; referring to the its supposed medicinal qualities in treating the spleen)

Species: trichomanes

Synonym(s): A. viride, A. trichomanes-ramosum

English Name(s):

Green Slpeenwort,

First Nation Names:

Description:

Small ferns

Sori (spore clusters) elongated

Natural History:

One genus in this family world wide.

Family Size:

World:

Genera: 1

Species: 700

North America:

Genera: 1

Species: 28

Yukon:

Genera: 1

Species: 1

Central Yukon:(CYSIP study area)

Genera: 1

Species: 1

Structure:

Leaves:

Reproductive Parts:

• Indusium (sorus cover) present, conspicuous, membranous, attached along the length of the sori (spore clusters).
• Sori (spore clusters) elongate, borne near indistinct midrib,

Seed:

• Reproduces by spores.

Not to Be Confused With:

• Woodsia glabella is another small fern with once pinnate fronds in our region. It can be distinguished by its round sori (spore clusters) with thread like indusium (sori cover).

Physiology:

Life Cycle:

• Perennial.

Seasonal Cycle:

• Fronds deciduous (dieing back).

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Among talus, moist to wet rock outcrops, and in usually protected crevaces of limestone.

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food: