: It is listed as endangered in states like Illinois , Indiana, and Pennsylvania, and threatened in Ohio .
: Initially, the hybrid was sterile, but through a rare natural process of chromosome doubling, it became a fertile, independent species.
Bradley's spleenwort is highly specialized and is often referred to as an "Appalachian spleenwort".
: 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
Bradley's spleenwort is a tufted perennial fern that grows in tight clusters. To identify it, look for these specific features:
Due to its very specific habitat requirements and rare occurrence, it is considered a species of special concern in many states.
: Research suggests that Bradley’s spleenwort has actually "formed" multiple times in different locations from independent hybridization events between its parent species. Habitat and Distribution