About Asplenium azoricum Lovis, Rasbach, K.Rasbach & Reichst.
Asplenium azoricum is a hybrid-origin fern in the family Aspleniaceae, and a descendant of the Macaronesian ancestral fern Asplenium anceps. It is a strict endemic fern that grows exclusively in the Azores. Its fronds have a plastic-like coriaceous texture, and its rachis is very thick, with a dark, brilliant garnet color. A characteristic feature it shares with all descendants of A. anceps is the presence of a small atrium at the base of medium and lower pinnae, which angles toward the apex of the frond, and bears one or two sori on its underside. This fern grows among stones of terrace walls, and in crevices of volcanic rocks that face north and northwest. Its phenotype changes significantly based on how much sun exposure it receives, and fronds become more coriaceous with increased sunlight. It can be found across all nine Azores Islands.
