maidenhair fern

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Venus maidenhair fern
• Venus'-hair fern
• southern maidenhair fern
• Maidenhair Fern
• Southern Maidenhair
• Venus' Hair-fern
• Venushair
• Venus's hair fern
• Venus's maidenhair
• Black Maidenhair
• Venus Maidenhair
• black maidenhair fern

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Adiantum affine
• Adiantum capillaceum
• Adiantum capillus-veneris f. cristatum
• Adiantum fumarioides
• Adiantum diaphanum var. affine
• Adiantum capillus-veneris f. fissum
• Adiantum capillus-veneris f. rimicola
• Adiantum capillus-veneris var. fissum
• Adiantum capillus-veneris var. modestum
• Adiantum capillus-veneris var. protrusum
• Adiantum capillus-veneris var. trifidum
• Adiantum cuneifolium
• Adiantum lingii
• Adiantum maderense
• Adiantum marginatum
• Adiantum michelii
• Adiantum modestum
• Adiantum moritzianum
• Adiantum paradiseae
• Adiantum pseudocapillus
• Adiantum remyanum
• Adiantum repandum
• Adiantum rimicola
• Adiantum schaffneri
• Adiantum subemarginatum
• Adiantum visianii
• Adiantum trifidum
• Adiantum capillus-veneris var. kenyense
• Adiantum capillus-veneris var. laciniatum
• Adiantum capillus-veneris var. daphnites
• Adiantum capillus-veneris var. magnificum
• Adiantum capillus-veneris var. polyhymnia
• Adiantum capillus-veneris subsp. trifidum
• Adiantum capillus-veneris f. lanyuanum
• Adiantum africanum
• Adiantum capillus-veneris var. grande
• Adiantum capillus-veneris var. imbricatum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Adiantum capillus-veneris, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Polypodiinae under the order Polypodiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Pteridaceae and the genus Adiantum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Adiantum capillus-venaticum, exhibits a specific geographical presence across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its distribution can be identified within the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is also found in the country of Austria. Additionally, the plant inhabits parts of Belgium within the central European landscape. Finally, its range extends through the Czech-Slovak region, completing its documented distribution.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Adiantum capillus-veneris is defined by its presence within the Floresta Ombrófila (Rainforest) ecosystem, where it thrives in humid, shaded environments. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying diverse topographical niches ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) to high-altitude montane regions reaching up to 2700 m AMSL. This wide elevational range allows the plant to adapt to varying climatic conditions across different mountain gradients, provided the fundamental habitat requirements of the rainforest are met.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Adiantum capillus-veneris is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a geophtye, relying on underground structures to survive unfavorable conditions, and is also categorized by its life form as a therophyte in certain ecological contexts. The plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional throughout its life cycle.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Adiantum capillus-veneris is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This plant is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, neither aquatic nor epiphytic, and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. In terms of its physical stature, it is a relatively small species with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.4 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.41 m. Furthermore, it does not exhibit climbing behavior, instead maintaining a self-supporting structural habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.4 m

Plant height mean:

0.41 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Adiantum capillus-veneris is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for most ferns inhabiting shaded, humid environments. This plant does not exhibit succulence, lacking thickened, fleshy tissues for water storage, and instead relies on high ambient humidity and consistent moisture to maintain its turgor pressure. It is a non-carnivorous species, obtaining its nutritional requirements through the uptake of minerals from the substrate rather than through the trapping of prey. Additionally, it is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic associations with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, depending instead on the available nitrogen within its soil or substrate.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Adiantum capillus-veneris is characterized by a specific phenological cycle and specialized dispersal mechanisms. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in August, following a seasonal pattern. As an abiotic pollination system, it utilizes a wind-based pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization. The resulting reproductive structures are classified under an "other" fruit type, with an extremely lightweight seed mass averaging approximately 0.0001512 g. For the spread of its offspring, the plant employs an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind to transport its tiny seeds across the environment. Furthermore, the plant does not exhibit asexual reproduction, relying instead on these sexual processes for its life cycle.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit type :

other

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass mean:

0.0001512 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Adiantum capillus-veneris has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Cell biochemistry and biophysics

Chemicals

Adiantum capillus-veneris has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include RUTIN, CHLOROGENIC ACID, 21-Hydroxyadiantone, 7-Fernene, Adiantone.

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

21-Hydroxyadiantone

1. Dr. Duke

7-Fernene

1. Dr. Duke

Adiantone

1. Dr. Duke

Adiantoxide

1. Dr. Duke

Astragalin

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoids

1. Food science & nutrition

Hydroxycinnamic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Isoquercetin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Adiantum capillus-veneris has 116 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Analgesic, Anticancer, Anticonvulsant.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of public health
3. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
4. Food science & nutrition

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of public health
3. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of public health

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Anticonvulsant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of public health

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food science & nutrition

Antiobesity

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Iranian journal of public health

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of public health

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Hypocholesterolemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of public health

Medicinal Uses

Adiantum capillus-veneris has 18 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include urolithiasis, wound healing, COVID-19, Marburg virus, analgesic.

Most Reported Uses