Adiantum aleuticum

Adiantum aleuticum, the western maidenhair fern or Aleutian maidenhair, is a species of deciduous fern in the genus Adiantum.

Western maidenhair fern
Western maidenhair (Adiantum aleuticum)

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Family: Pteridaceae
Genus: Adiantum
Species:
A. aleuticum
Binomial name
Adiantum aleuticum
(Rupr.) C.A.Paris
Subspecies
  • Adiantum aleuticum subsp. aleuticum
  • Adiantum aleuticum subsp. subpumilum (W.H.Wagner) Lellinger
Synonyms
  • Adiantum pedatum L. subsp. aleuticum (Rupr.) Piper & Beattie
  • Adiantum pedatum L. subsp. aleuticum (Rupr.) Calder & Roy L.Taylor, nom. illeg. superfl.
  • Adiantum pedatum L. var. aleuticum Rupr.
  • Adiantum pedatum L. subsp. calderi Cody
  • Adiantum pedatum L. var. praeflexum Copel. ex C.F.Baker, nom. nud.
  • Adiantum pedatum L. var. rangiferinum E.S.Burgess

Description

The fronds grow 15–110 cm (5.9–43.3 in) tall, and are fan-shaped, light to medium green with dark brown to black stems.

Taxonomy

Formerly classified as A. pedatum var. aleuticum, it was shown to be a separate species in 1991.[1][2]

Other common names include serpentine maidenhair and five-fingered fern.

Distribution and habitat

Adiantum aleuticum is native mainly to western North America from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, south to Chihuahua, and also locally in northeastern North America from Newfoundland south to Vermont.[3]

It prefers fertile, moist soil in rock crevices near streams, from sea level in the north of its range, up to 3,200 m altitude in the south of its range. It tolerates serpentinite rock well, and is confined to this mineral-rich rock in some areas.[3]

Cultivation

The species[4] and its cultivar 'Subpumilum' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[5] Though hardy they may also be grown as houseplants. They prefer low to medium light, and will grow in moist potting mix. They may prove difficult to keep alive in dry climates.[6]

See also

References
  1. Paris, Cathy A. (April 1991). "Adiantum viridimontanum, a new maidenhair fern in eastern North America". Rhodora. 93 (874): 105–121. JSTOR 23312786.}
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). "Adiantum aleuticum". Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). New York and Oxford – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  3. "Adiantum aleuticum". Jepson Herbarium, University of California. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  4. "Adiantum aleuticum". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  5. "RHS Plant Selector - Adiantum aleuticum 'Subpumilum'". Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  6. Hoshizaki, Barbara Joe; Moran, Robbin C. (2001). Fern Grower's Manual. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 160. ISBN 9780881924954.
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