About
The genus *Adiantum*, commonly known as the maidenhair fern, is notable for its distinctive appearance featuring dark, often black stipes and rachises contrasted with bright green leaf tissue. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "unwetted," referring to the fronds' ability to shed water without becoming wet.
Field notes
Morphology
The ferns are distinctive with dark, often black stipes and rachises, and bright green leaf 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.
Distribution & habitat
The highest species diversity is found in the Andes, with fairly high diversity also occurring in eastern Asia, including nearly 40 species in China. Species are also native to North America and New Zealand.
Cultivation notes
Many species are grown in the horticultural trade, including tropical species like *A. raddianum* and *A. peruvianum*. Some species, such as *A. pedatum* and *A. aleuticum*, are notably cold-hardy, with *A. capillus-veneris* being hardy to zone 7.
Habitat
- Altitude
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- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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