Rustyback Fern

Asplenium ceterach

It is cold and wet outside so I did not want to go far from the fire today. This fern grows on our garden wall, it is one of the more unusual ferns around here because it grows on limestone or on old mortar in a wall such as this one. Old mortar used to be made with lime and this is what attracts this fern.

It is named Rustyback because the underside of the fronds are covered in dense scales which are white when the fern is young but turn a rusty brown on maturity. Maybe later in the year I will take a shot of the underside.

When it is dry in the summer the fern looks like it is dead but as soon as the rain comes again it grows new bright green fronds. I think it has been on this wall for many decades.