Southern maidenhair fern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern maidenhair fern |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Adiantum
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| Species: |
capillus-veneris
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The Southern maidenhair fern (its scientific name is Adiantum capillus-veneris) is a beautiful type of fern. People also call it the black maidenhair fern or Venus hair fern. It belongs to the Adiantum group of ferns. You can find this fern growing naturally in many parts of the world. It is also a very popular plant that people grow in gardens and as a houseplant.
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Where This Fern Lives
The Southern maidenhair fern grows naturally in many places. In the United States, it lives in the southern states, from California all the way to the Atlantic coast. It also grows through Mexico, Central America, and into South America.
You can also find it in Eurasia, a region that includes Europe and Asia. It grows in a part of Western Asia called the Levant. And it's found in Australasia, which includes Australia and nearby islands.
Sometimes, this fern pops up in surprising northern spots. For example, it grows in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It's also found in Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada. In these colder places, warm water from hot springs creates a special, warm area. This allows the fern to grow far from its usual warm homes. A similar situation happens in Serbia, where hot springs help it survive.
This fern likes warm places, from mild to tropical climates. It needs a lot of moisture but not too much water. It grows well in damp, well-drained soil like sand, loam, or limestone. You can find it in many different places, such as rainforests and woodlands. It also grows near desert cliffs where water seeps out, and by springs.
Often, you'll see it on moist, shady sandstone or limestone rocks. It prefers spots that are sheltered from too much sun. In Africa, it grows in damp areas near streams. Even without full protection, it can grow on wet sandstone cliffs in partial shade.
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What the Fern Looks Like
The Southern maidenhair fern usually grows about 6 to 12 in (15 to 30 cm) tall. Its leaves, called fronds, grow in groups from underground stems called rhizomes. The fronds are very delicate and light green. They are divided into many small parts, each about 0.2 to 0.4 in (5 to 10 mm) long and wide. The stems of the fronds are black and look like thin wires.
Growing This Fern
The Adiantum capillus-veneris fern is very popular around the world. People grow it in many ways. It's used in natural gardens that feature native plants. It's also a common plant for traditional shade gardens. You can grow it outdoors in container gardens. And it's a very popular houseplant to keep inside your home.
Protecting This Fern
This fern is an endangered species in North Carolina. It's called the southern maidenhair-fern there. In Kentucky, it's a threatened species, known as the Venus hair fern. This is because its natural home in the Appalachian Mountains is being lost.
How People Use This Fern
Native American people have used this plant for medicine. The Mahuna people used it to help with rheumatism. The Navajo people from Kayenta, AZ used a liquid made from the plant. They put it on their skin to treat stings from bumblebees and centipedes. The Navajo also used it by smoking it or drinking it to help with mental illness.
In Iran, people traditionally use a liquid made from the fronds of Adiantum capillus-veneris. They use it to help treat jaundice, a condition that makes skin and eyes look yellow.
See also
In Spanish: Culantrillo de pozo para niños
