: It is listed as endangered in states like Illinois , Indiana, and Pennsylvania, and threatened in Ohio .

( Asplenium bradleyi ) is a rare, small evergreen fern found primarily in the east-central United States. Named after Professor Frank Howe Bradley, who first discovered it in Tennessee in 1871, it typically thrives in the specialized, harsh environment of acidic rock crevices on sandstone or granite cliffs. Key Characteristics & Identification

This fern has a fascinating evolutionary history known as . It originated as a hybrid between the Mountain Spleenwort ( A. montanum ) and the Ebony Spleenwort ( A. platyneuron ).

Due to its very specific habitat requirements and rare occurrence, it is considered a species of special concern in many states.

: The lower half of the stalk is a distinct shiny, reddish-brown or blackish color, while the upper half (the rachis) transitions to green.

: The frond consists of 6 to 14 pairs of triangular, toothed leaflets. The lowest pair are often the largest, and they gradually decrease in size toward the tip.

Bradley's spleenwort - Illinois Department of Natural Resources

: On the underside of mature fronds, you can find small, rusty-brown clusters called sori, which produce spores between June and December. Unique Hybrid Origins