Adiantum
The common name for this genus is the 'maidenhair' ferns, there are about 200 species currently classified as Adiantum, only four of which are found in Western Australia. The genus was previously listed in the family Adiantaceae but has merged into the family Pteridaceae using the APGlll system (Thiele, 2010).
A. capillus-veneris and subspecies A. hispidulum hispidulum are listed as 'Priority Two' in Western Australia, entailing that they are poorly known and only recorded from few sites which may not be under threat (Florabase N.D.; DPAW Conservation Codes, N.D.). A. capillus-veneris is found in the IBRA region SWA (Swan Coastal Plain) and only otherwise found in the PIL region (Pilbara) and A. hispidulum hispidulum in both NK and CK (North and Central Kimberley) regions. All other species found in Western Australia are currently considered non-threatened (Florabase, N.D.).
In Adiantum species the rooting stem will be found either lying on the ground or, if standing, growing in tufts of various lengths. This part of the plant will have black-brown scales which may sometimes be pale at the edges depending on the species. The stalk of the frond will be hard and scaly at the base and occasionally hairy toward the top end. This appendage should appear glossy and black-brown in colour. The leaves are counted as one per frond and are divided into 1-4 leaflets, of soft texture, all either smooth or sparsely hairy; each leaflet will be a fan, wedge or appear divided into equal halves in shape. These leaflets will either be paired opposite each other or alternate along the frond and will have free and forked veins. The spore producing packets will either be kidney or crescent shaped and are found at the edge of the leaflets on the underside either in a bent backward cup or with the edge of the leaflet folded over them; the spores will be smooth (Kramer & McCarthy, n.d.; Wheeler, n.d.).
Kingdom – Plantae
Phylum – Pteridophyta
Class – Polypodiopsida (may also be found as Pteridopsida)
Order – Polypodiales
Family – Pteridaceae E.D.M.Kirchn.
Genus – Adiantum L.
Current taxonomic information as at October 2014 retrieved from: Florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/20882 and fernswa.myspecies.info/taxa/
Adiantum species present in WA can be found in sclerophyllous forests (A. aethiopica), in moist gorges or cliff faces (A. capillus-veneris), in crevices of lateritic rocks (A. hispidulum) and on damp rock ledges like those found near waterfalls (A. philippense). This genus will grow in a variety of substrates, from sandy clay to lateritic gravel to sheer rock (Florabase, n.d.).
Some members of this genus have been found to have medical use. A. capillus-veneris was historically purported to have medicinal qualities in areas as varied as thyroid dysfunction to leprosy (Vijayalakshmi & Kumar 2013). Some of these various claims have been explored and there has been research into both the treatment of hyperthryoidism and male pattern baldness using enzymes and concentrated ethanolic extracts from the species respectively, both reporting significant success (Vijayalakshmi & Kumar 2013; Noubarani et al. 2014). Other uses for species within this genus can be found on their specific pages, which can be found using the taxa menu on the left of this website.
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