#calcerious

Still can’t get over just how small this species is.  Asplenium trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens.

This species prefers acidic rocks typically; but this smaller subspecies is really only associated with dolostone outcroppings that retain moisture or stay fairly wet. The divisions of the maidenhair spleenwort is really not by size necessarily, but is associated directly with substrate and separation by long distances between prefered habitats. Although this speciation event isn’t traditional allopatric speciation(speciation by large scale geographic divergence and separation) this species is definitely one exception that had been funnelled under that cause, micro-allopatric speciation for quite some time due to the presence of this species in many countries that span the northern hemisphere of the globe. The truth later was found that Asplenium trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens was far more rare overall than its acidic sandstone loving lineage, and it was more associated with North Eastern North America. Thus it was due to edge niche shift in a place that shared both habitats(like RRG for example). This then referred this speciation event to  Parapatric Speciation; the specific way it has been phrased is really “Gradual speciation by habitat splitting” 

The more common acidic/sandstone loving lineage is referred to now as A. trichomanes subsp. trichomanes. 

I finished off a recent jaunt with these little treasures, not full population anthesis; but, here we have a gorgeous plant regardless and a representation of a hillside population of the Great Larkspur enjoying the soil chemistry of the underlying calcareous substrate of Glenwood Gardens.

Delphinium exaltatum

This species seems to be pollinated by a large slew of species, from hummingbirds and hawkmoths to skippers and solitary bees, it produces a fair amount of seed and does well in any calcareous glade or hillside prairie shading out isn’t relevant yet, major disjunction events occur. Ohio is known for it’s well preserved decent examples of calcareous glade systems that exist in the Edge of Appalachia prairie system (Lynx, Cedar Barrens, Falling Prairie ect.) and a few populations in the Darby Plaines Cedar Glade and Hill Prairie systems of Clark and Greene co. Besides those populations in Ohio the next few populations occur in Pennsylvania down to Louisiana. The other super disjunct populations occurs in a calcareous cedar glade in Missouri in the Ozarks Mountain Range as well as a few populations in Tennessee.  There were probably pocket populations occurring at some points during history during the prairie peninsula expansion but it still doesn’t explain why we haven’t seen any examples in WI, IN, IL, or KY which have well known examples of calcareous glades. 

Left, massive ladyfern with exposed red stems gleaming in the light. 

Right, a large example of the state threatened wall-rue spleenwort with classic teal fronds with heavy dissection.