Black spleenwort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black spleenwort |
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| Genus: |
Asplenium
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| Species: |
adiantum-nigrum
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The Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, also known as the black spleenwort, is a common type of fern. You can find this fern in many parts of the world, especially in Africa, Europe, and Eurasia. It also grows naturally in a few places in Mexico and the United States.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
This spleenwort fern has thick, triangle-shaped leaves. Each leaf can grow up to 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) long. These leaves are divided into many smaller parts.
The stem that holds the leaf is reddish-green. The main vein of the leaf is shiny and a bit hairy. If you look underneath each small leaf part, you'll see tiny brown spots. These spots are called sori, and they are where the fern's spores (like tiny seeds) are made. They are usually lined up in rows.
Where Does It Grow?
The black spleenwort fern grows naturally in many different areas:
Africa
- Northern and Southern Africa: You can find it in Algeria, Lesotho, Morocco, and Tunisia.
- South Africa: It grows in the provinces of Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, and Western Cape.
Asia
- Western and Central Asia: It is found in the Caucasus region, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, parts of Russia (like Ciscaucasia and Dagestan), and Turkey.
Europe
- Across Europe: This fern grows in Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France (including Corsica), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy (including Sardinia), the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine (including Crimea), and the United Kingdom. It is also found in the Balkan Peninsula (which used to be Yugoslavia).
Macaronesia
- Atlantic Islands: It lives on the islands of the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands.
North America
Oceania
- Hawaii: In Hawaii, this fern grows on cinder cones and lava flows. It is also present in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
See also
In Spanish: Asplenium adiantum-nigrum para niños
