Hartstonque
EN

Hartstonque

Asplenium scolopendrium

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asplenium_scolopendrium

Overview

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.

Threat summary

Habitat

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...

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Aspleniaceae

VU

ladder spleenwort

Asplenium adulterinum

Unknown
Green SpleenwortVU

Green Spleenwort

Asplenium viride

Unknown
CR

Asplenium veneticolor

Unknown
CR

Asplenium alatum

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Hartstonque classified as Endangered?
Hartstonque is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. 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.
Where does Hartstonque live?
Hartstonque occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Hartstonque?
The main threats to Hartstonque are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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