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''Adiantum'' (), the maidenhair fern, is a
genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
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 exce ...
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 group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
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-rich, moist, well-drained sites, ranging from bottomland
soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt Dirt is an unclean matter, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin, or possessions. In such cases, they are said to become dirty. Common types of dirt include: * Debri ...
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 severa ...
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, and that the vittarioid ferns are derived from this larger paraphyletic genus. However, if '' Adiantum raddianum'', and possibly a few other species, are removed, the remaining plants (genus type: ''
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 adiantoides'' *'' Adiantum aethiopicum'' – common maidenhair, true maidenhair *'' Adiantum alarconianum'' *'' Adiantum aleuticum'' – Aleutian maidenhair, western five-fingered Fern *'' Adiantum amazonicum'' *'' Adiantum amblyopteridium'' *'' 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'' – 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 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 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'' – 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 lamrianum'' *'' 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 monosorum'' *'' Adiantum multisorum'' *'' Adiantum myriosorum'' *'' Adiantum neoguineense'' *'' Adiantum novae-caledoniae'' *'' Adiantum nudum'' *'' Adiantum oaxacanum'' *'' 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'' – 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 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'' – delta maidenhair *'' Adiantum rectangulare'' *'' Adiantum reniforme'' – 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 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'' – Seeman's maidenhair *'' Adiantum semiorbiculatum'' *'' Adiantum senae'' *'' 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 "u ...
'' *'' 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 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