H. x massartiana fills a spectrum of variation which connects the two parental species.

In practice, its occurrences are highly scattered and rare, as the two parental species do not often occur adjacent to one another.

Like its parental species, the hybrid is generally found in recently disturbed clearings.

In fact, she said, "they seem to reproduce just as well if not better than the parental species."

Generally this occurs when there has been a drastic change in the environment within the parental species' habitat.

In addition to its parental species, "A. bradleyi" hybridizes with several other spleenworts.

It can also backcross with its parental species.

It's the main parental species of the large flowering Grandiflora hybrids.

If the change in environmental conditions is permanent or is radical enough that the parental species cannot survive, the hybrids become the dominant form.

Otherwise, the parental species will re-establish themselves when the environmental change is reversed, and hybrids will remain in the minority.