Asplenium marinum Sea Spleenwort

Sea Spleenwort is a widespread, distinctive and predominantly coastal fern in Britain. It is usually found growing out of a fissure in coastal rocky cliffs and it frequently occurs within the sea-spray zone just above highwater mark. Its thick fronds have a waxy surface which presumably protects the leaf from saltburn. In West Glamorgan it is confined to the coastal, limestonel cliffs of the south Gower coast. John Lightfoot recorded it from rocks near Baglan Bay in 1773, perhaps near the current location of MacDonalds, but it has not been seen there or thereabouts in recent times.

Native