Adiantum capillus-veneris L.

Southern Maidenhair Fern; Venus' Hair Fern

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Southern Maidenhair Fern is a native perennial in the Maidenhair Fern family (Pteridaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Southern Maidenhair Fern occurs on the calcareous banks of rivers and streams, on the walls of limesinks, around caves and waterfalls, and rarely in cracks of the mortar of old buildings, drains, and wells. It is a perennial with short creeping rhizomes. Leaves are deciduous, petiolate, 3-4 pinnate, and glabrous. The leaves are a blueish-green color and water repellant. The petiole and rachis are dark black, glabrous, wiry, and flexuous, the fronds arching or pendent. The ultimate segments of the fronds (pinnules) are fan-shaped with deeply lobed margins. Spores are produced near the outer margins of the pinnules. The spores are produced in sporangia which are covered by a flap of tissue known as a false indusium. The false indusium results from the rolling under of the margin of the pinnule. Southern Maidenhair Fern is a popular horticultural species, and many varieties are available from nurseries. It can be grown in a terrarium, potted, or in pockets of limestone rocks. It needs to be kept consistently moist. Southern Maidenhair Fern prefers a neutral or basic soil that is rich in organic matter, and full shade.--A. Diamond

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Native FACU (NWPL)

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