138.500 Adiantum L. - Maidenhair fern

Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature

Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria.

Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca

Description of the genus

Rhizome shortly or widely creeping with brown rhizome-scales. Stipe dark brown or black, shiny. Fronds herbaceous, 1-4-pinnate or pedate, with ultimate segments fan- to diamond-shaped, glabrous or hairy, or sometimes with yellow powder on under surface. Sori borne on the inner surface of marginal reflexed lobes which also serve as pseudo-indusia.

Derivation of name: adiantos: dry, untouched by water; referring to the ability of the leaves to remain dry in rain, the water forming pearly droplets on the surface

Worldwide: 200 species, pantropical but mainly South America and southern Africa

Botswana: 2 taxa.

The larvae of the following species of insect eat species of this genus:
Callopistria maillardi (White Tangle)
Adiantum incisum

Links to taxa:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this genus

SpeciesFZ divisionsContent
capillus-veneris L.Description, Image
incisum Forssk.Description, Image

Other sources of information about Adiantum:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Adiantum
Flora of Malawi: Adiantum
Flora of Mozambique: Adiantum
Flora of Zambia: Adiantum
Flora of Zimbabwe: Adiantum
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Adiantum

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Adiantum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Adiantum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Adiantum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Adiantum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Adiantum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Adiantum
JSTOR Plant Science: Adiantum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Adiantum
Plants of the World Online: Adiantum
Tropicos: Adiantum
Wikipedia: Adiantum

Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Botswana: Genus page: Adiantum.
https://www.botswanaflora.com/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=31, retrieved 19 March 2024

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