Adiantum capillus-veneris
| Adiantum capillus-veneris | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 6.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Adiantum capillus-veneris (common name: maidenhair fern)
Propagation: Spores - best sown as soon as ripe on the surface of a humus-rich sterilized soil. Keep the compost moist, preferably by putting a plastic bag over the pot. Germination should take place within 6 weeks[1]. Pot on small clumps of plantlets as soon as they are large enough to handle and keep humid until they are well established. Do not plant outside until the ferns are at least 2 years old and then only in a very well sheltered position.
Division in spring or autumn. Best carried out in early spring[1].
Cultivation: Requires an abundance of moisture in the air and in the soil[2], though the soil should be well-drained[1]. Likes a position with plenty of light but dislikes full sun[3]. Prefers a sheltered shady position[1]. If the plant dries out temporarily it will lose most of its fronds, though it will usually resprout from the base[1].
Plants are not very hardy outdoors in Britain, even though they are a native species[K]. They only succeed in areas with little or no frosts, growing well on maritime cliffs in the milder areas of the country[K].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[4].
A very ornamental plant[3].
Range: Tropical and warm temperate zones throughout the world, including Britain.
Habitat: Rock crevices, cliffs by the sea on basic rocks in damp positions[5][6].
Edibility: The fronds are used as a garnish on sweet dishes[7].
The dried fronds are used to make a tea[8][9][10][11][12].
A syrup is made from the plant - it makes a refreshing summer drink[10][12]. The fern (does this refer to the rootstock?) is simmered in water for several hours and the liquid made into a thick syrup with sugar and orange water. It is then mixed with fruit juices to make a refreshing drink.
Medicinal: The maidenhair fern has a long history of medicinal use and was the main ingredient of a popular cough syrup called 'Capillaire', which remained in use until the nineteenth century[13]. The plant is little used in modern herbalism.
The fresh or dried leafy fronds are antidandruff, antitussive, astringent, demulcent, depurative, emetic, weakly emmenagogue, emollient, weakly expectorant, febrifuge, galactogogue, laxative, pectoral, refrigerant, stimulant, sudorific and tonic[2][14][5][15][16][17][18][19][20][13]. A tea or syrup is used in the treatment of coughs, throat afflictions and bronchitis[19]. It is also used as a detoxicant in alcoholism[14] and to expel worms from the body[19]. Externally, it is used as a poultice on snake bites, bee stings etc[18][19][21]. In Nepal, a paste made from the fronds is applied to the forehead to relieve headaches and to the chest to relieve chest pains[22]. The plant is best used fresh, though it can also be harvested in the summer and dried for later use[14][5].
Usage: The leaves are used as a hair tonic and treatment for dandruff[15][9][19].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Late Spring-Early Fall
Known Hazards: Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[23].
Many ferns also contain thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex. In small quantities this e
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Mabey, Richard. Food for Free. Collins, 1974.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Coon, Nelson. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press, 1975.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Sowerby, John. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. 1862.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Stuart, Malcolm. The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism. Orbis Publishing, 1979.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.