January 16, 2018

Rustyback


An old farm abandoned fifty years ago is now a ruin. Ferns grow amidst the remains, like here Rustyback (Asplenium ceterach).









It is a small fern with rather thick leaves that keep their dark green colour in winter.







Old stone walls are everywhere. Especially those that are old, delapidated and overgrown are the prefered habitat of Rustyback.







When spring comes it begins to unfurl new fronds of a much lighter green. Notice the underside of the older leaves which is covered in a kind of downy brown stuff. Those are the sporangia. And this is, of course, why this fern is called Rustyback. In dry weather the fronts roll up laterally and you only see the brown underside.





New leaves!