''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of about 250 species of

fern A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta ) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. The polypodiophytes include all living pteridophytes except t ...

s in the subfamily

Vittarioideae Vittarioideae is a subfamily of the fern family Pteridaceae, in the order Polypodiales. The subfamily includes the previous families Adiantaceae (adiantoids or maidenhair ferns) and Vittariaceae (vittarioids or shoestring ferns). Description The ...

of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Pteridaceae Pteridaceae is a family of ferns in the order Polypodiales, including some 1150 known species in ca 45 genera (depending on taxonomic opinions), divided over five subfamilies. The family includes four groups of genera that are sometimes recogni ...

, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

, meaning "unwetted", referring to the

frond A frond is a large, divided leaf. In both common usage and botanical nomenclature, the leaves of ferns are referred to as fronds and some botanists restrict the term to this group. Other botanists allow the term frond to also apply to the lar ...

s' ability to shed water without becoming wet.

Description

They are distinctive in appearance, with dark, often black stipes and

rachis In biology, a rachis (from the grc, ῥάχις [], "backbone, spine") is a main axis or "shaft". In zoology and microbiology In vertebrates, ''rachis'' can refer to the series of articulated vertebrae, which encase the spinal cord. In this c ...

es, and bright green, often delicately cut

leaf A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, ste ...

tissue. The sori are borne submarginally, and are covered by reflexed flaps of leaf tissue which resemble indusia. Dimorphism between sterile and fertile fronds is generally subtle. They generally prefer

humus In classical soil science, humus is the dark organic matter in soil that is formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter. It is a kind of soil organic matter. It is rich in nutrients and retains moisture in the soil. Humus is the Lati ...

-rich, moist, well-drained sites, ranging from bottomland

soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life. Some scientific definitions distinguish ''dirt'' from ''soil'' by restricting the former te ...

s to vertical rock walls. Many species are especially known for growing on rock walls around

waterfall A waterfall is a point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in several wa ...

s and water seepage areas. The highest species diversity is in the Andes. Fairly high diversity also occurs in eastern Asia, with nearly 40 species in China. Species native to North America include '' A. pedatum'' (five-fingered fern) and the closely related '' A. aleuticum'', which are distinctive in having a bifurcating frond that radiates pinnae on one side only. The cosmopolitan '' A. capillus-veneris'' (Venus-hair fern) has a native distribution that extends into the eastern continent. '' A. jordanii'' (California Maidenhair) is native to the west coast. There is a rich ''Adiantum'' flora in New Zealand with 3 endemic species (''A. cunninghamii'', ''A. viridescens'' and ''A. fulvum'') in a total of 10 recorded species. Many of these are common especially in the west and south of the islands.

Cladistics

It is now known that this genus is

paraphyletic In taxonomy (general), taxonomy, a group is paraphyletic if it consists of the group's most recent common ancestor, last common ancestor and most of its descendants, excluding a few Monophyly, monophyletic subgroups. The group is said to be pa ...

, and that the vittarioid ferns are derived from this larger paraphyletic genus. However, if ''

Adiantum raddianum ''Adiantum raddianum'', the Delta maidenhair fern, is one of the most popular ferns to grow indoors.Adiantum capillus-veneris ''Adiantum capillus-veneris'', the Southern maidenhair fern, black maidenhair fern, maidenhair fern, and venus hair fern, is a species of ferns in the genus ''Adiantum'' and the family Pteridaceae with a subcosmopolitan worldwide distribution. I ...

'') are then monophyletic.

Cultivation

Many species are grown in the

horticultural Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and no ...

trade. There are a number of tropical species, including '' A. raddianum'' and '' A. peruvianum''. Both '' A. pedatum'' and '' A. aleuticum'' are hardy to zone 3, and are by far the most cold-hardy members of the genus. ''A. venustum'' is also cold-hardy to zone 5. ''A. capillus-veneris'' is hardy to zone 7. Hybrids, such as '' Adiantum × mairisii'', are also popular.

List of species

*'' Adiantum abscissum'' *''

Adiantum aculeolatum ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "un ...

'' *''

Adiantum adiantoides ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "un ...

'' *''

Adiantum aethiopicum ''Adiantum aethiopicum'', also known as the common maidenhair fern, is a small fern of widespread distribution, occurring in Africa, Australia, Norfolk Island and New Zealand. ''Adiantum aethiopicum'' was one of the many species first described ...

'' – common maidenhair, true maidenhair *''

Adiantum alarconianum ''Adiantum alarconianum'' is a South American maidenhair fern. First scientifically collected in the early 1800s in Ecuador, it is found in neighboring parts of Peru as well. Its iridescent stem scales help to differentiate it from other related ...

'' *''

Adiantum aleuticum ''Adiantum aleuticum'', the western maidenhair fern or Aleutian maidenhair, is a species of deciduous fern in the genus ''Adiantum''. Description ''A. aleuticum'' typically grows about 18-30 inches tall and wide. The fronds grow tall, and are f ...

'' – Aleutian maidenhair, western five-fingered Fern *''

Adiantum amazonicum ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "un ...

'' *''

Adiantum amblyopteridium ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "un ...

'' *'' Adiantum amelianum'' *'' Adiantum anceps'' – double edge maidenhair *'' Adiantum aneitense'' *'' Adiantum angustatum'' *'' Adiantum annamense'' *'' Adiantum atroviride'' *'' Adiantum bellum'' – Bermuda maidenhair *'' Adiantum bessoniae'' *''

Adiantum blumenavense ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "u ...

'' *'' Adiantum boliviense'' *''

Adiantum bonatianum ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "u ...

'' *'' Adiantum bonii'' *''

Adiantum brasiliense ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "u ...

'' – Brazilian maidenhair *'' Adiantum breviserratum'' *'' Adiantum calcareum'' *'' Adiantum capillus-junonis'' *''

Adiantum capillus-veneris ''Adiantum capillus-veneris'', the Southern maidenhair fern, black maidenhair fern, maidenhair fern, and venus hair fern, is a species of ferns in the genus ''Adiantum'' and the family Pteridaceae with a subcosmopolitan worldwide distribution. I ...

'' – black maidenhair, southern maidenhair, Venus' hair *'' Adiantum caudatum'' – walking maidenhair, tailed maidenhair, trailing maidenhair *'' Adiantum celebicum'' *'' Adiantum chilense'' *'' Adiantum christii'' *''

Adiantum comoroense ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "u ...

'' *'' Adiantum concinnum'' – polished maidenhair, brittle maidenhair *'' Adiantum coreanum'' – Korean maidenhair fern *'' Adiantum crespianum'' *'' Adiantum cultratum'' *'' Adiantum cuneatiforme'' *''Adiantum cuneatum'' (

junior synonym The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently. * In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linna ...

of ''A. raddianum'') *'' Adiantum cunninghamii'' *'' Adiantum cupreum'' *'' Adiantum curvatum'' *'' Adiantum davidii'' *'' Adiantum diaphanum'' – filmy maidenhair, small maidenhair. *'' Adiantum dioganum'' *'' Adiantum diphyllum'' *'' Adiantum discretodenticulatum'' *'' Adiantum dissimulatum'' *'' Adiantum edgeworthii'' *'' Adiantum elegantulum'' *'' Adiantum erylliae'' *'' Adiantum erythrochlamys'' *'' Adiantum excisum'' – Chilean maidenhair *''

Adiantum fengianum ''Adiantum fengianum'' is a species of maidenhair fern endemic to China. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by whi ...

'' *'' Adiantum fimbriatum'' *'' Adiantum flabellulatum'' *'' Adiantum formosum'' – giant maidenhair, Australian maidenhair *'' Adiantum fossarum'' *'' Adiantum fragile'' – fragile maidenhair *'' Adiantum fragrans'' *'' Adiantum fructosum'' *'' Adiantum fulvum'' *'' Adiantum gertrudis'' *'' Adiantum gibbosum'' *'' Adiantum gingkoides'' *'' Adiantum glabrum'' *'' Adiantum glaureosum'' *'' Adiantum glaucescens'' *'' Adiantum glaucinum'' *'' Adiantum glaziovii'' *''

Adiantum gomphophyllum ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "un ...

'' *'' Adiantum gracile'' *'' Adiantum gravesii'' *'' Adiantum grossum'' *'' Adiantum hispidulum'' – rough maidenhair, rosy maidenhair *'' Adiantum hollandiae'' *'' Adiantum hornei'' *'' Adiantum hosei'' *'' Adiantum imbricatum'' *'' Adiantum incertum'' *'' Adiantum incisum'' *''

Adiantum intermedium ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning ...

'' *''

Adiantum jordanii ''Adiantum jordanii'' is a perennial species of maidenhair fern, in the Vittarioideae subfamily of the Pteridaceae. The species is known by the common name California maidenhair. It is native to California and Baja California. ''A. jordanii'' is ...

'' – California maidenhair *''

Adiantum juxtapositum ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "u ...

'' *'' Adiantum kendalii'' *'' Adiantum kingii'' *''

Adiantum klossii ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "u ...

'' *''

Adiantum lamrianum ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "un ...

'' *'' Adiantum latifolium'' – broadleaf maidenhair *'' Adiantum lenvingei'' *†'' Adiantum lianxianense'' *'' Adiantum lindenii'' *'' Adiantum lonrentzii'' *'' Adiantum lucidum'' *'' Adiantum macrocladum'' *'' Adiantum macrophyllum'' – largeleaf maidenhair *'' Adiantum madagascariense'' *'' Adiantum malaliense'' *'' Adiantum malesianum'' *'' Adiantum mariesii'' *'' Adiantum mariposatum'' *'' Adiantum mcvaughii'' *'' Adiantum melanoleucum'' – fragrant maidenhair *'' Adiantum mendoncae'' *'' Adiantum menglianense'' *'' Adiantum mettenii'' *''

Adiantum mindanaense ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning ...

'' *''

Adiantum monochlamys ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "un ...

'' *'' Adiantum monosorum'' *''

Adiantum multisorum ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "un ...

'' *'' Adiantum myriosorum'' *'' Adiantum neoguineense'' *'' Adiantum novae-caledoniae'' *'' Adiantum nudum'' *''

Adiantum oaxacanum ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "un ...

'' *'' Adiantum obliquum'' – oblique maidenhair *'' Adiantum ogasawarense'' *'' Adiantum opacum'' *'' Adiantum ornithopodum'' *'' Adiantum ovalescens'' *'' Adiantum palaoense'' *'' Adiantum papillosum'' *'' Adiantum paraense'' *''

Adiantum patens ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "u ...

'' *'' Adiantum pearcei'' *''

Adiantum pedatum ''Adiantum pedatum'', the northern maidenhair fern or five-fingered fern, is a species of fern in the family Pteridaceae, native to moist forests in eastern North America. Like other ferns in the genus, the name maidenhair refers to the slender, ...

'' – northern maidenhair, five-fingered fern *''

Adiantum pentadactylon ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "u ...

'' *'' Adiantum peruvianum'' – silver-dollar fern, Peruvian maidenhair *'' Adiantum petiolatum'' – stalked maidenhair *''

Adiantum philippense ''Adiantum philippense,'' (''Goyali Lota, Kalijhant'' in Bengali language, Bengali: গয়ালী লতা, ''Hamsapadi, Kitamata, Tripadika'' in Sanskrit, ''Jarigida'' in Kannada, ''Hamsapadi'' in Hindi ), also known as walking maidenhair ...

'' *'' Adiantum phyllitidis'' *'' Adiantum platyphyllum'' *'' Adiantum poiretti'' *'' Adiantum polyphyllum'' – giant maidenhair *'' Adiantum pseudotinctum'' *'' Adiantum pulchellum'' *'' Adiantum pulcherrimum'' *''

Adiantum pulverulentum ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning " ...

'' – glossy maidenhair *'' Adiantum pumilum'' *'' Adiantum pyramidale'' – pyramid maidenhair *''

Adiantum raddianum ''Adiantum raddianum'', the Delta maidenhair fern, is one of the most popular ferns to grow indoors.Adiantum rectangulare'' *''

Adiantum reniforme ''Adiantum reniforme'' (lotus-leaved maidenhair fern) is a species of fern in the genus ''Adiantum'' (maidenhairs), family Pteridaceae Pteridaceae is a family of ferns in the order Polypodiales, including some 1150 known species in ca 45 gene ...

'' – lotus-leaved maidenhair fern *''

Adiantum rhizophorum ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "un ...

'' *'' Adiantum robinsonii'' *''

Adiantum roborowskii ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family (biology), family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from ...

'' *''

Adiantum rondoni ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "u ...

'' *'' Adiantum rubellum'' *'' Adiantum rufopetalum'' *'' Adiantum scabrum'' *'' Adiantum schmalzii'' *'' Adiantum schmidtchenii'' *'' Adiantum schweinfurthii'' *''

Adiantum seemannii ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "un ...

'' – Seeman's maidenhair *'' Adiantum semiorbiculatum'' *''

Adiantum senae ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "un ...

'' *'' Adiantum serratifolium'' *'' Adiantum shastense'' *''

Adiantum siamense ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning " ...

'' *''

Adiantum silvaticum ''Adiantum silvaticum'', is a small maidenhair fern found in eastern Australia. The habitat is open eucalyptus forest or rainforest. It may be seen on moist cliff faces and beside streams, often in high rainfall areas. Found as far south as Ullad ...

'' *'' Adiantum sinicum'' *'' Adiantum soboliferum'' *'' Adiantum sordidum'' *'' Adiantum stenochlamys'' *'' Adiantum stolzii'' *'' Adiantum subcordatum'' – big maidenhair *''

Adiantum subpedatum ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "un ...

'' *'' Adiantum tenerum'' – fan maidenhair, brittle maidenhair *'' Adiantum tenuissimum'' *'' Adiantum tetragonum'' *'' Adiantum tetraphyllum'' – fourleaf maidenhair *'' Adiantum thalictroides'' *''

Adiantum trapeziforme ''Adiantum trapeziforme'', the giant maidenhair or diamond maidenhair, is a species of fern in the genus ''Adiantum'', native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America South America is a continent entirely in the Wester ...

'' – diamond maidenhair *''

Adiantum tricholepis ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning " ...

'' – fuzzy maidenhair *'' Adiantum trilobum'' *'' Adiantum tripteris'' *'' Adiantum venustum'' – evergreen maidenhair, Himalayan maidenhair. *''

Adiantum villosissimum ''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns in the subfamily Vittarioideae of the family Pteridaceae, though some researchers place it in its own family, Adiantaceae. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "un ...

'' *'' Adiantum villosum'' – woolly maidenhair *'' Adiantum viridescens'' *'' Adiantum viridimontanum'' – Green Mountain maidenhair *'' Adiantum vivesii'' – Puerto Rico maidenhair *'' Adiantum vogelii'' *'' Adiantum wattii'' *'' Adiantum wilsonii'' – Wilson's maidenhair *'' Adiantum zollingeri''

Gallery

File:Adiantumhispidulum1web.jpg, Rough Maidenhair Fern (''Adiantum hispidulum'') File:Adiantum cunninghamii.jpg, ''Adiantum cunninghamii'' showing characteristic inrolled leaf margin containing sori File:Adiantum lunulatum W IMG_2337.jpg, ''Adiantum lunulatum'' in

Goa Goa () is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is located between the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. File:Adiantumraddianum1web.jpg, Delta Maidenhair (''Adiantum raddianum'')

References

Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Adiantum''Flora of North America: ''Adiantum''Flora of China: ''Adiantum'' species list

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q673823 Fern genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus