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Asplenium × Gravesii
''Asplenium'' × ''gravesii'', commonly known as Graves' spleenwort, is a rare, sterile, hybrid fern, named for Edward Willis Graves (1882–1936). It is formed by the crossing of Bradley's spleenwort (Asplenium bradleyi, ''A. bradleyi'') with lobed spleenwort (Asplenium pinnatifidum, ''A. pinnatifidum''). It is only found where its parent species are both present; in practice, this proves to be a few scattered sites in the Appalachian Mountains, Shawnee Hills, and Ozarks, reaching perhaps its greatest local abundance around Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Like its parents, it prefers to grow in acid soil in the crevices of sandstone cliffs. Description ''Asplenium'' × ''gravesii'' is a small fern, whose fronds grow in loosely bundled tufts. Its stem below the leaf blade is a shiny purplish-brown, while the green, narrowly triangular blades are cut into pinnae near the base, which diminish into lobes in the upper part. The fronds are monomorphic, showing lit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Ralph Maxon
William Ralph Maxon, (February 27, 1877 – February 25, 1948) was an American botanist and pteridologist. He graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Philosophy, B.Ph. in biology, in 1898, and spent about one year at Columbia University doing post-graduate work on ferns with Lucien Marcus Underwood. In 1899 he accepted a position with the National Museum of Natural History, United States National Museum, which was a part of the Smithsonian Institution; he remained at the museum for his entire career. In 1899 he became an aide with the Division of Plants. He was named assistant curator in 1905, associate curator in 1914, and curator of that Division in 1937. He retired in 1946, but continued his association with the museum until his death in 1948. For the current version of this webpage, see . The later version does not indicate authorship. Alan Bain has written that, "Maxon specialized in the taxonomic study of Pteridophyta, especially those of tropical America, and w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |