Adiantum hispidulum

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information

Wikipedia links:       Monilophytes > Polypodiales > Pteridaceae > Adiantum  hispidulum

Other links:

Related species:   A aethiopicum   A formosum    A hispidulum   A silvaticum    

Plant  information

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:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiantum_hispidulum (2023)