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Asplenium erosum L.
Eared Spleenwort
Auricled Spleenwort
Synonym(s): Asplenium auritum Swartz
Florida native
Endangered Florida species
An occasional fern on fallen logs, trees and stumps in wet hammocks and swamps of Flagler and Volusia Counties on the east coast of Florida, from Hillsborough to Citrus and Sumter Counties on the central west coast and Collier County in southwest Florida. Also found in Mexico and Jamaica.
Eared spleenwort is an erect unbranched fern growing in tufts. The fertile and sterile fronds are similar and grow up to 40cm (15-3/4 in.) tall with the pinnate blade 4-35cm (1-1/2 to 13-3/4 in.) long and 1.8-18cm (3/4 to 7 in.) wide. There are 10 to 22 pairs of narrowly lanceolate toothed pinnae with an obvious basal lobe (auricle) on the upward facing margin. Each pinna may be up to 9cm (7 in.) long and 2.5cm (1 in.) wide, but most often less than half this length. Up to ten pairs of sori can be found along the midvein towards the apex of the pinna.
Asplenium erosum is a member of the Aspleniaceae - Spleenwort family.
Other species of the Asplenium genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Asplenium dentatum - TOOTHED SPLEENWORT
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Apr 05, 2024
