Kingdom Plantae Class Polypodiopsida Family Aspleniaceae Scientific name Asplenium ruprechtii | Division Pteridophyta Order Polypodiales Genus Asplenium
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Similar Asplenium incisum, Asplenium rhizophyllum, Asplenium prolongatum, Aspleniaceae, Asplenium normale | ||
Asplenium ruprechtii, which goes by the common name Asian Walking Fern, is a rare, hardy, low-lying fern native to East Asia. It is a close relative of Asplenium rhizophyllum (syn: Camptosorus rhizophyllus) which is found in North America and also goes by the common name of walking fern. The species should not be confused with Asplenium sibiricum which is a synonym of Diplazium sibiricum.
Description
The name walking fern was derived from the way the fern spreads. The underside of each leaf contain sori, and when the tip of the leaf touches the ground, new planlets sprout, creating a "walking" effect.
The evergreen, undivided, slightly leathery leaves are triangular and taper to a thin point. Sori, the spore-bearing structures, are distributed in clusters along the veins on the underside of the leaves. The plant can be found in the shady areas of limestone ledges and in limy forest places. Asplenium ruprechtii is smaller than its relative, Asplenium rhizophyllum, and usually has cuneate bases to its fronds, whereas A. rhizophyllum usually has cordate frond bases.