Asplenium ceterach spores grow into the rustyback fern or scale fern — a lithophytic fern native to the temperate biome across Europe east to Tibet and south to north-western Africa. The epithet ceterach derives from the Arabic name shitarach for this fern, reflecting its long history in Arab medicine and its presence across the Saharan-Mediterranean interface. A remarkable xerophytic fern adapted to life on dry limestone, mortar and rock walls — the underside of the fronds is entirely covered with overlapping, rusty-brown scales that protect against desiccation, giving the fern its common name 'rustyback'. In severe drought, the fronds curl and appear dead, but revive completely when moistened — a resurrection plant behaviour. Described by Linnaeus and treated in POWO as a species of Asplenium. Family Aspleniaceae, Order Polypodiales.Full sun to partial shade; dry, well-drained, preferably calcareous rock crevices and walls; cool to warm temperate conditions; extremely drought-tolerant once established. Spore germination: sterile humid substrate, weeks to months. 'Ceterach' from Arabic shitarach; rusty-brown scales on frond underside = desiccation protection Resurrection fern — curls in drought and revives completely when wetted; xerophytic lithophyte Europe to Tibet, NW. Africa — temperate biome; limestone, mortar and rock walls Genus Asplenium: ~700 species, cosmopolitan; Family Aspleniaceae (Order Polypodiales) Full sun to partial shade; dry calcareous rock; drought-tolerant; Family Aspleniaceae Asplenium ceterach is the rustyback fern — a resurrection plant that appears dead in drought but revives completely on rewetting, its rust-scaled fronds clinging to the driest limestone walls and mortar from Europe to Tibet in one of the most extraordinary desiccation-tolerance strategies in the fern world. IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.
