Taxon Report

Asplenium septentrionale (L.) Hoffm.

northern spleenwort

Print Report


©2018 Sierra Pacific Industries

Taxon Summary

Asplenium septentrionale, commonly known as northern spleenwort, is a perennial rhizomatous herb in the Aspleniaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Chaparral, Lower montane coniferous forest, Subalpine coniferous forest, and Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1615 to 3350 meters. Asplenium septentrionale is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.


  Classification

Scientific Name:
Asplenium septentrionale (L.) Hoffm.
Common Name:
northern spleenwort
Family: Aspleniaceae
Element Code: PPASP021F0
USDA Plants Symbol: ASSE
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial rhizomatous herb
Blooming Period: Jul-Aug Jul-Aug
Elevation: 1615-3350 (5300-10990)
General Habitats: Chaparral, Lower montane coniferous forest, Subalpine coniferous forest, Upper montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat: Granitic, Rocky
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 8
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 1
   Good (B) 1
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 6
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Shasta (SHA), Tehama (TEH), Tulare (TUL)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Lassen Peak (4012145), Manzanita Lake (4012155), Mineral King (3611845), Thousand Lakes Valley (4012165), West Prospect Peak (4012154)

Notes

On review list in ID, and endangered in OR.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Asplenium septentrionale profile for potential Species of Conservation Concern evaluation (2018)
MadroƱo 25(4):232 (1978) for distributional information
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 30 January 2025].