Asplenium Pinnatifidum Instant

( Asplenium rhizophyllum ): Contributes the long, tapering frond tips.

( Asplenium montanum ): Contributes the deeply lobed leaf structure.

The ( Asplenium pinnatifidum ) is a small, evergreen fern that primarily inhabits the crevices of non-calcareous rocks, such as sandstone and shale, across the Appalachian Mountains and into the Midwest. Often overlooked by casual hikers, this rare plant is a fascinating example of evolutionary biology in action, representing a stable, fertile hybrid species. A Hybrid Origin

: Unlike the Walking Fern, which has smooth-edged (entire) leaves, the Lobed Spleenwort has distinct lobes along the entire length of its frond.