Adiantum venustum
| Adiantum venustum | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Adiantum venustum
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. Pot on small clumps of plantlets as soon as they are large enough to handle and keep them 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.
Cultivation: Requires an abundance of moisture in the air and soil[1]. Prefers an alkaline soil[2]. Requires an acid soil in another report. Plants are quick to establish on peat banks or in rock crevices in light shade or, if the soil is not too dry, under trees[3].
A very ornamental plant, it is nearly hardy in sheltered places in Britain, though is more normally grown in a greenhouse[1].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[4].
Range: E. Asia - Himalayas.
Habitat: Rock crevices and on forest slopes, 1700 - 2200 metres in Kashmir[5]. Moist, shady, rocky places in Nepal at elevations of 300 - 3,600 metres[6].
Medicinal: The fronds are astringent, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, expectorant, resolvent and tonic[7] They are used in the treatment of headaches and scorpion stings[5][7].
A paste made from the rhizomes is used in Nepal to treat cuts and wounds[6].
Usage: This species can be grown as a ground cover plant in a shady position[8], forming a spreading carpet of growth[9].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Known Hazards: Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[2].
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 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Singh, Gurcharan and Premnath Kachroo. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1976.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.