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Adiantum capillus-veneris - L.

Common Name Maidenhair Fern, Common maidenhair, Southern Maidenhair Fern, Venus Maidenhair Fern, Venus's Hair Fe
Family Polypodiaceae
USDA hardiness 8-11
Known Hazards Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[200]. Many ferns also contain thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase[172].
Habitats Rock crevices, cliffs by the sea on basic rocks in damp positions[9, 17].
Range Tropical and warm temperate zones throughout the world, including Britain.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade
Adiantum capillus-veneris Maidenhair Fern, Common maidenhair, Southern Maidenhair Fern, Venus Maidenhair Fern, Venus


(c) ken Fern, Plants For A Future 2010
Adiantum capillus-veneris Maidenhair Fern, Common maidenhair, Southern Maidenhair Fern, Venus Maidenhair Fern, Venus
(c) ken Fern, Plants For A Future 2010

 

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Summary

Form: Spreading or horizontal, Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of fern
Adiantum capillus-veneris is a FERN growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. The seeds ripen from May to September.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Cultivated Beds; West Wall. In.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses: Drink  Tea

The fronds are used as a garnish on sweet dishes[5]. The dried fronds are used to make a tea[2, 106, 115, 177, 183]. A syrup is made from the plant - it makes a refreshing summer drink[115, 183]. The fern (does this refer to the rootstock?) is simmered in water for several hours and the liquid made into a thick syrup with sugar and orange water. It is then mixed with fruit juices to make a refreshing drink.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antidandruff  Antitussive  Depurative  Emmenagogue  Expectorant  Galactogogue  Refrigerant  Stings  
Tonic  Vermifuge

The maidenhair fern has a long history of medicinal use and was the main ingredient of a popular cough syrup called 'Capillaire', which remained in use until the nineteenth century[268]. The plant is little used in modern herbalism. The fresh or dried leafy fronds are antidandruff, antitussive, astringent, demulcent, depurative, emetic, weakly emmenagogue, emollient, weakly expectorant, febrifuge, galactogogue, laxative, pectoral, refrigerant, stimulant, sudorific and tonic[4, 7, 9, 21, 46, 61, 218, 222, 240, 268]. A tea or syrup is used in the treatment of coughs, throat afflictions and bronchitis[222]. It is also used as a detoxicant in alcoholism[7] and to expel worms from the body[222]. Externally, it is used as a poultice on snake bites, bee stings etc[218, 222, 257]. In Nepal, a paste made from the fronds is applied to the forehead to relieve headaches and to the chest to relieve chest pains[272]. The plant is best used fresh, though it can also be harvested in the summer and dried for later use[7, 9].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Hair

The leaves are used as a hair tonic and treatment for dandruff[21, 106, 222].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Ground cover, Woodland garden. Requires an abundance of moisture in the air and in the soil[4], though the soil should be well-drained[238]. Likes a position with plenty of light but dislikes full sun[1]. Prefers a sheltered shady position[238]. If the plant dries out temporarily it will lose most of its fronds, though it will usually resprout from the base[238]. Plants are not very hardy outdoors in Britain, even though they are a native species[K]. They only succeed in areas with little or no frosts, growing well on maritime cliffs in the milder areas of the country[K]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233]. A very ornamental plant[1]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Not North American native, Naturalizing, There are no flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Spores - best sown as soon as ripe on the surface of a humus-rich sterilized soil. Keep the compost moist, preferably by putting a plastic bag over the pot. Germination should take place within 6 weeks[238]. Pot on small clumps of plantlets as soon as they are large enough to handle and keep humid until they are well established. Do not plant outside until the ferns are at least 2 years old and then only in a very well sheltered position. Division in spring or autumn. Best carried out in early spring[238].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Turkey NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Alberta, British Columbia), United States (Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Colorado, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah), Mexico (Baja, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Chiapas, Colima, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Puebla, Querétaro, Tlaxcala) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Cuba, United States (Puerto Rico), Guatemala EUROPE: Ukraine (Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Spain, France AFRICA: Portugal (Azores), Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, South Africa (Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Transvaal), Madagascar

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Adiantum pedatumNorthern Maidenhair,American Maidenhair FernFern0.5 4-9 SLMHSM022
Adiantum venustumEvergreen Maidenhair FernFern0.3 9-11 MLMHSM013
Asplenium adiantum-nigrumBlack SpleenwortFern0.5 5-9  LMFSM022

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

holly jackson   Tue Apr 8 2008

Yeah, do be careful because my Mum is allergic to ferns and gets a really nasty rash from them, so make sure you are not allergic first.

TONMAY SAMADDER   Fri Oct 16 2009

HOW CAN WE USE IT BROADLY?TO USE ALLOCEIPA HOW PROCESS DO WE NEED?

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