Sea Spleenwort Likes the Rain

Sea Spleenwort, Asplenium marinum

Sea Spleenwort, Asplenium marinum, is a common fern found in rock crevices through out the coasts of Ireland (1). As such, it is exposed to highly saline conditions which can delay spore germination and even prevent it completely at high concentrations (2). However, once a decrease in salt concentrations occurs, due in vivo to rainfall, spores regained their germination ability.

Sea Spleenwort, Asplenium marinum

References:

1. Philips 1980, Grasses, Ferns, Mosses and Lichens of Great Britain and Ireland p. 97
2. Pangua 2008, Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants 204 pp. 673-684