Walking Fern Asplenium rhizophyllum Linnaeus    Synonyms: Camptosorus rhizophyllus, Rooting Leaf.
Kingdom Plantae   >   Division Pteridophyta   >   Class Polypodiopsida   >   Order Polypodiales   >   Family Aspleniaceae   >   Genus Asplenium   

Description:

Walking Fern does not look like a typical fern. The blades are single, lanceolate, evergreen, and entire, tapering to a long, attenuate tip that may be either arching or lying flat. The blades commonly root at the tip, enabling the fern to cascade over the rocky substrates on which it grows and giving the fern its common name.

Where to find:

Walking Fern is uncommon in Maryland. It grows on moist, rocky outcrops, often limestone. Winter is a good time to look for it, before the spring vegetation obscures it.

There are 121 records in the project database.

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Walking Fern in Washington Co., Maryland (4/9/2017). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Washington Co., Maryland (3/11/2013). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Washington Co., Maryland (4/15/2018). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Allegany Co., Maryland (4/19/2015). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Walking Fern in Garrett Co., Maryland (5/21/2013). Photo by Kerry Wixted. (MBP list)

Sori distribution on the back of a fertile Walking Fern blade in Washington Co., Maryland (8/4/2012). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Washington Co., Maryland (4/20/2014). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Frederick Co., Maryland (2/16/2020). (c) ptbrnchbob, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by ptbrnchbob via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Howard Co., Maryland (3/3/2016). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Howard Co., Maryland (3/1/2016). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Walking Fern (measured leaf) in Howard Co., Maryland (3/1/2016). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Walking Fern growing in Frederick Co., Maryland (3/11/2018). Photo by Robert Ferraro. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Howard Co., Maryland (3/1/2016). Photo by Joanne Solem. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/18/2014). Photo by Dwight Johnson. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Frederick Co., Maryland (3/11/2018). Photo by Robert Ferraro. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Howard Co., Maryland (3/3/2016). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Washington Co., Maryland (1/2/2021). (c) Matthew Moskwik, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Matthew Moskwik via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Howard Co., Maryland (3/11/2020). (c) Bonnie Ott, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Bonnie Ott via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/23/2014). Photo by Jim Wilkinson. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Washington Co., Maryland (4/25/2016). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Carroll Co., Maryland (4/21/2021). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tom Feild. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Howard Co., Maryland (3/20/2020). (c) prettycoolman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by prettycoolman via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Baltimore Co., Maryland (11/22/2019). (c) apistopanchax, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Howard Co., Maryland (3/20/2020). (c) prettycoolman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by prettycoolman via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Washington Co., Maryland (10/1/2017). (c) lynnparsons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by lynnparsons via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Howard Co., Maryland (9/19/1976). With very limited habitat in the county, this species is very rare in Howard County. Photo by Robert Solem. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Washington Co., Maryland (3/20/2020). (c) botanygirl, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by botanygirl via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Walking Fern in Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/27/2020). (c) Dwight Johnson, all rights reserved. Photo by Dwight Johnson. (MBP list)


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