Adiantum hispidulum
Rough Maidenhair Fern
Rough Maidenhair Fern
From: Flora in Australia
Wikipedia links: Monilophytes > Polypodiales > Pteridaceae > Adiantum hispidulum
Other links:
Related species: A aethiopicum A formosum A hispidulum A silvaticum
Common name: Rough Maidenhair Fern
Also, five-fingered jack
Conservation status: . . .
Etymology:
Genus name is from Greek, meaning "unwetted", referring to the fronds' ability to shed water without becoming wet
Its species name is derived from the Latin hispis "hair" and means "minutely hairy"
Spores:
Each pinnule may have 1 to 20 sori along its margins underneath
Leaves:
Its fronds rise in clumps from rhizomes among rocks or in the soil in sheltered areas
The dark stipe measures up to 45 cm in length
The fronds are divided into long and short narrow triangular or elliptic pinnae
Each pinnae is divided again into smaller roughly rectangular, diamond, or fan-shaped pinnules
Young growth may have a pinkish tinge before it matures into the dark green foliage
Stem & branches:
Roots:
Its fronds arising from the short dark clumped rhizomes
Habit:
A small fern of widespread distribution
Grows in tufts or clumps among rocks or from the ground
Habitat:
A common plant, that is often seen growing in moist areas
In Australia it is found near rocks, in rainforest or open forest
Distribution:
The species ranges from tropical Eastern Africa, to Asia through Malesia to Australia as well as New Zealand and Pacific islands
In all states of Australia, with the exception of Tasmania
African countries include: South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi, Kenya and Tanzania, as well as Madagascar and the Comoros, Mauritius
Apart from its native range, it has naturalised in Macaronesia (the Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands), the Southeastern United States and Hawaii
Additional notes:
Taxonomy
It was first described by Swedish botanist Olof Swartz in 1802
Cultivation
It is grown as an ornamental plant that adapts readily to cultivation
May be slow growing
It is more tolerant of sun and drying out than other fern species
According to the Royal Horticultural Society it is hardy down to -5C to -10C
Sources of information: