Ebony Spleenwort

Ebony Spleenwort

Asplenium platyneuron

Who doesn't like Ebony Spleenwort?  It's got a cool name, it's a neat little plant that grows in nice places, easy to identify and the sori are often present underneath the leaves.  The sori hold the spores and will ultimately release them to ride the wind and populate new places.

I tend to spot it in upland wooded areas, but it also likes rocky habitats, which are not common in northeast Indiana.

As far as the name, notice that the stem is a very dark "ebony" color.

Underside of the leaf showing the sori (and some sort of long-legged insect)