Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pteridophyta (Filicophyta
Class: Pteridopsida (Filicopsida)
Subclass: Filicinae
Order: Aspleniales
Family: Aspleniaceae
Genus: Asplenium

Asplenium rhizophyllum

Common name: Walking fern

(Drawing from How to Know the Ferns by Frances Parsons)

The walking fern is an unusual small rock fern that only grows on densely mossy rock, usually limestone, occasionally sandstone or other rocks. The fronds are entire with smooth edges, and long-tapering towards the tip, which becomes an almost threadlike ribbon of leaf, and which buds and roots at the tip to form a new plant. In this way, walking fern "walks" all over boulders or rock faces.

Because the sori of the walking fern grow at all different angles on the backs of the fronds, it was placed in its own genus, Camptosorus. However, it hybridizes so commonly with other Aspleniums that it clearly is congeneric with them. The species Asplenium pinnatifidum arose as a hybrid between the walking fern and A. montanum. Asplenium Xebenoides is a sterile hybrid that may also colonize rocks, and is a hybrid between the walking fern and A. platyneuron.

The walking fern can be grown in a rock garden, but is difficult to establish. It will withstand drought ONLY when well-established.

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This page was last revised on 11-20-1997.