Ebony Spleenwort Fern

Description:

This fern takes its common name from its dark, reddish-brown, glossy stipe and rachis (stem and leaf axis), which bear a once-divided, pinnate leaf. The fertile fronds, which die off in the winter, are darker green and stand upright, while the sterile fronds are evergreen and lie flat on the ground. An auricle at the base of each pinna points towards the tip of the frond. The dimorphic fronds and alternate, rather than opposite, pinnae distinguish it from the similar black-stemmed spleenwort.

Habitat:

This fern is native to North America east of the Rocky Mountains and to South Africa. Ebony spleenwort has broad habitat preferences, growing both on rocks like many other North American spleenworts and in a variety of soils. Unlike many other spleenworts, it is not particularly sensitive to soil pH. This one was spotted at the Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve in McCormick County, South Carolina.

Notes:

It is also called brownstem spleenwort. The date is the correct spotting date, as I am entering some old spottings into the database.