Synonyms

Asplenium melanocaulon Willd.; Chamaefilix trichomanes (L.) Farw.

Local Names

Azerbaijan: Tüкvari qamcılıca; Georgia: – mamats’ara, – gvelis gvimra (Imeretian), – indore (Lechkhumuan), – k’ldis k’ilamura (Chanetian), – momasts’ara (Uper Imeretian) (Makashvili 1991; Ketskhoveli et al. 1971–2011); English: Mouse-ear fern.

Botany and Ecology

Perennial, tufted fern, with black and scaly rhizome. Leaf stalks reddish brown to nearly black throughout the entire length. Leaves pinnately compound, pinnae usually opposite, these oblong, ovate, or wedge-shaped with lobes and shallow teeth, but not clasping petiole, frond veins not intertwining. Sori oblong on the undersides of leaf lobes. In shaded crevices, ledges, or boulders of chert, sandstone, or granite in shady woods. Distributed in Caucasus (Ciscaucasia, Dagestan, Southern Transcaucasia, Talysh), Central Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, North America. Asplenium trichomanes is a widespread and common species, occurring almost worldwide in a variety of rocky habitats. It is widespread in temperate and subartic areas and also occurs in mountainous regions in the tropics. The species grows in rocky habitats such as cliffs; slopes, walls and mine waste, from sea level up to 3000 m (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Asplenium trichomanes (Aspleniaceae). Georgia (Photo: N. Paniagua-Zambrana)

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Azerbaijan: Areal covers all regions of Greater and Lesser Caucasus, as well as Gobustan, Absheron, Mountainous part of Nakhchivan, Diabar, Lankaran lowlands and mountainous part of Lankaran. Grows in the lower and middle mountain belt. Found in forests, stony slopes, shady stony places and on rocks (Flora of Azerbaijan 1950–1961).

Georgia: One of the most widespread ferns in Georgia. Common in all the mountain forest zones. Rarely occurs in subalpine areas. Sometimes can be found in places devoid of forest. Most frequently grows on rocks, boulders, gravely soil on steep slopes covered with forest and shrubland, on terrace edges and bare rocks, especially abundant on moss-covered rocks, boulders fallen into ravines. Sometimes occurs on rotten stumps and logs (esp. those covered with delluvial gravel). Rarely grows as epiphyte on moss-covered branches of living trees. Grows as separate individuals or groups never forming large thickets (Ketskhoveli et al. 1971–2011). Distributed throughout the country except Kiziki anf Gardabani (Ketskhoveli et al. 1971–2011).

Local Medicinal Uses

Azerbaijan: The decoction of leaves is used as expectorant in diseases of the lungs. A decoction of leaves is used for scurvy and hair loss. The decoction of leaves is used as tonic, lactigenous, as well as for fever (Alekperov 1992; Damirov et al. 1988).

Georgia: Used in Telavi against diarrhea (Sharadze 1961).

Local Veterinary and Fodder Uses

Georgia: The whole plant is given to livestock in case of urine retention (Bussmann et al. 2014, 2016a, b, 2017a, b, c) (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Asplenium trichomanes (Aspleniaceae). Leaves collected for use. Lower Svaneti, Georgia (Photo: N. Paniagua-Zambrana)

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Local Handicraft and Other Uses

Azerbaijan: Beautiful plant, can be used in designing gardens and parks.