Common maidenhair fern

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Common maidenhair fern
Common Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris)

Common Maidenhair Fern ( Adiantum capillus-veneris )

Systematics
Ferns
Class : True ferns (Polypodiopsida)
Order : Spotted ferns (Polypodiales)
Family : Pteridaceae
Genre : Maidenhair Fern ( Adiantum )
Type : Common maidenhair fern
Scientific name
Adiantum capillus-veneris
L.

The Common Maidenhair ( Adiantum capillus-veneris ), simply maidenhair , maidenhair (Latin Capillus Veneris originally, the wall-rue significant), is one of the world's most common and widespread species of ferns . It belongs to the genus of maidenhair ferns ( Adiantum ). It is the only maidenhair fern that is native to Europe .

Common names

Illustration from Thomé: Flora of Germany, Austria and Switzerland
Habitat on a wet, trickled rock in Israel

The following names are or were, in some cases only regionally, in use: Frähenhor ( Transylvania ), Frauenhaar, Frauenzopf, Güldenwiderthon ( Rendsburg ), Jungfrawenhaar ( Middle High German ), Minnenhaar (Middle High German) and Vrowenhaar ( Middle Low German ).

description

The common maidenhair fern is a delicate, perennial herbaceous plant . The relatively short, creeping trunk is covered with golden-brown to medium-brown, membranous scales.

The leaf fronds, which usually grow relatively close to the stem, are pendulous to upright and overhanging. The leaf fronds are usually 20 to 35 (15 to 75) centimeters long and triangular to lanceolate in outline. They are irregularly pinnate two to three times, with the individual pinnate sections varying in shape between rhombic, fan-shaped or wedge-shaped, but overall about as long as wide. The front edge of the leaflets is only very slightly lobed. At their base, the very delicate feathers are narrow or wide, narrowed in a wedge shape. The axes of the fronds are thin, shiny, and at least near the base, but mostly far up, dark in color.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 60.

Occurrence

The common maidenhair fern, which does not tolerate severe frost, is found worldwide in all regions with a climate that is not too cold. This includes the tropics and subtropics of the world. In Europe, the common maidenhair fern can be found in the Mediterranean area as far as sheltered areas in the southern Alps and in southern England. In North America you can find it in the southern states of the USA .

Typical locations are wet limestone cliffs, lime-rich steep slopes along rivers or streams, or walls that have been poured over and mortared. This species often forms large populations at suitable locations.

use

The common maidenhair fern is used as an ornamental plant in tropical parks and gardens and in rooms.

medicine

For coughs, colds, hoarseness or bronchial catarrh, an infusion or an alcohol tincture from the fronds of the common maidenhair fern can be taken.

literature

  • Wolfgang Frey, Jan-Peter Frahm, Eberhard Fischer, Wolfram Lobin: Small cryptogam flora Volume IV: The moss and fern plants of Europe. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New York 1995, ISBN 3-437-30756-8 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Irmgard Müller: Fern herbs. In: Lexikon des Mittelalters , Stuttgart 1999, Volume IV, Column 300
  2. ^ Carl Jessen : The German folk names of plants , published by Philipp Cohen Hannover 1882, page 10
  3. ^ Konrad Lauber, Gerhart Wagner: Flora Helvetica. Flora of Switzerland. Verlag Paul Haupt, Bern, Stuttgart, Vienna, 1996, ISBN 3-258-05405-3 , p. 48
  4. ↑ The Great Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants - Their Use and Their Natural Healing Power . Translation from Italian by Walter Wurzer. 1994, ISBN 3-7043-9002-X , pp. 43 .

Web links

Commons : Common Maidenhair Fern ( Adiantum capillus-veneris )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: common maidenhair fern  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations