Hartstonque
Asplenium scolopendrium
Asplenium scolopendrium, commonly known as the hart's-tongue fern, is an evergreen fern in the family Aspleniaceae native to the Northern Hemisphere.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asplenium_scolopendrium
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Polypodiopsida
Order
Polypodiales
Family
Aspleniaceae
Genus
Asplenium
Hartstonque belongs to the family Aspleniaceae, order Polypodiales, within the Polypodiopsida class.
Species Profile
Asplenium scolopendrium, commonly known as the hart's-tongue fern, is an evergreen fern in the family Aspleniaceae native to the Northern Hemisphere.
Hart's-tongue fern faces significant population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation from agricultural intensification, urban development, and quarrying activities that destroy its specialized limestone habitats. Climate change and increased drought frequency further threaten this moisture-dependent species, while invasive plant species compete for suitable growing sites in its remaining fragmented populations.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Asplenium scolopendrium is a common species in the Old World: *The subspecies scolopendrium occurs throughout Europe (including the Caucasus and the British Isles). It is absent however in northeast Europe (Finland, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania and European Russia). Beyond Europe, it is found in the Middle East, and North Africa (in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, as well as the Canary...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Hart's-tongue fern faces significant population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation from agricultural intensification, urban development, and quarrying activities that destroy its specialized limestone habitats. Climate change and increased drought frequency further threaten this moisture-dependent species, while invasive plant species compete for suitable growing sites in its remaining fragmented populations.
Agricultural intensification and land conversion
Habitat loss from quarrying and limestone extraction
Climate change and increased drought stress
Competition from invasive plant species
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (EN).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | ENEndangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | ENEndangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Hartstonque (Asplenium scolopendrium). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/hartstonque