Pteridophytes (Spore Producing Plants: Ferns and More) • Earth.com

Northern maidenhair fern

(Adiantum pedatum)

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Description

Adiantum pedatum, the northern maidenhair fern or five-fingered fern, is a species of fern in the family Pteridaceae, native to moist forests in eastern North America. Like other ferns in the genus, the name maidenhair refers to the slender, shining black stipes. Several species have been segregated from the former A. pedatum, sensu lato. These include A. aleuticum, A. viridimontanum, A. myriosorum, and A. subpedatum. These all have fronds distinctively bifurcated and with pinnae on only one side. A. pedatum grows 30–75 cm (12–30 in) tall, and is deciduous. It grows in a variety of habitats, but generally favors soils that are both humus-rich, moist, and well-drained. It grows both in soils and on rock faces and ledges when adequate moisture is present.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum:
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order:Polypodiales
Family:Pteridaceae
Genus:Adiantum
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