True Maidenhair fern
Adiantum capillis-veneris

Family: Pteridaceae

What it is like

A fern which grows to 30-60 cm high. The rhizome is short and creeping and thin. It spreads to 30 cm wide. The leaves are clustered. The fronds are divided 2-3 times. The frond blade is triangular. The fronds are light green. The stalk is blackish brown, shiny and hairless.

There are over 200 Adiantum species. This one is used for medicine in Nepal and Bangladesh. Also put in the family Adiantaceae.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate to subtropical plant. It needs a well drained but moist soil. It likes plenty of light but not full sun. They only grow where frosts are rare. It suits warm temperate and subtropical regions but will grow in cooler regions. It needs temperatures above 7°C. In China it grows between 100-2,800 m above sea level. It grows in limestone soil. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Britain, Central America, Central Asia, China, East Africa, Egypt, Europe, Fiji, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lesotho, Libya, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Nepal, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Rotuma, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Southern Africa, Spain, Tajikistan, Tonga, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fronds are dried used to make a tea-like drink. They have been used as flavouring for soft drinks. The young leaves are used in salads and cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Fronds, leaves - flavouring, leaves - tea, vegetable

How it is grown

Spores can be sown on sterile humus rich soil. Keeping a plastic bag over the plants helps keep them moist. Spores germinate in about 6 weeks. Small plants need to be kept moist and transplanted. They need to be in a sheltered position. Plants can be grown by division of the clumps.

Its other names

Local names

Adiantum, Capillaire, Common maidenhair, Dudder grass, Dumtuli, Hanspadi, Hansraj, Mubaraka, Pursha, Venus hair fern, Vilina vlas

Synonyms

Adiantum africanum R. Br.; Adiantum affine Willd.; and several others