Ontario Ferns website

Hart's Tongue Fern
Asplenium scolopendrium

Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) Other common names: American Hart's Tongue Fern

Other scientific names: Phyllitis fernaldiana, Phyllitis scolopendrium, Scolopendrium vulgare

Family: Spleenwort Family (Aspleniaceae)

Distinctive features: At first glance, very un-fernlike. Individual, undivided leaves.

Similar species:
  •   Walking Fern (Asplenium rhizophyllum) - but that fern is rather unique.

  •   Other non-fern plants - Might be confused with non-fern plants.


Fronds: Evergreen, Undivided;  Simple, undivided. Usually lie along the ground. Sometimes upright. Up to about 1 foot long.

Height: Up to 1 m (1-2 ft)

Habitat: Forests;  Rocky areas. Forsts and shaded areas.

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Very Rare.

Photographs: 177 photographs available, of which 10 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)

An upright Hart's Tongue Fern plant.

Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)

Another specimen. Note the indentation at the base of each leaf (frond).

Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)

Not a typical fern-like shape at all! This fern loves rocky shaded areas.

Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)

Sometimes the fronds do not grow upright, but lay along the ground instead.

Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)

Almost lost among the fallen leaves of last fall.

Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)

This fern is VERY RARE. If you find some, please do not disturb it, and keep its location to yourself, only sharing it with responsible naturalists and botanists.

Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)

Young leaves in spring.

Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)

The central growth "knob". Note the small unfurled fronds ready to grow up.

Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)

The sori on the underside of the leaf. This is where the spores grow and are released from.

Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)

A "grove" of Hart's Tongue Fern in deeply shaded rocky woods.


Range map for Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)