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

Mozambique: 8 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.Z,MS,GIDescription, Image
hispidulum Sw. var. hispidulum MSDescription, Image
incisum Forssk.N,Z,T,MSDescription, Image
lunulatum Burm.f.N,Z,MSDescription, Image
mendoncae Alston[NrEnd]N,MSDescription, Image
poiretii J.E. Wikstr.N,TDescription, Image
raddianum C.PreslZ,MSDescription, Image
soboliferum Hook.Z,MSDescription, Image

Other sources of information about Adiantum:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Adiantum
Flora of Malawi: Adiantum
Flora of Zambia: Adiantum
Flora of Zimbabwe: Adiantum

External websites:

ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Adiantum
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Adiantum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Adiantum
Wikipedia: Adiantum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Adiantum
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Adiantum

Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave 2007-23

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2023). Flora of Mozambique: Genus page: Adiantum.
https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=31, retrieved 21 March 2023

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