Adiantum aleuticum

Taxobox
name = Western Maidenhair Fern


image_width = 250px
image_caption = Western Maidenhair ("Adiantum aleuticum")
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Pteridophyta
classis = Pteridopsida
ordo = Pteridales
familia = Adiantaceae
genus = "Adiantum"
species = "A. aleuticum"
binomial = "Adiantum aleuticum"
binomial_authority = (Rupr.) Parris

"Adiantum aleuticum" (Western Maidenhair Fern) is a species of fern in the genus "Adiantum", 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 Maryland.

The fronds grow to 15-110 cm high, and are fan-shaped, light to medium green with dark brown to black stems. 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 serpentine rock well, and is confined to this mineral-rich rock in some areas.

Other common names include Serpentine Maidenhair, Aleutian Maidenhair, and Five-fingered Fern.

Medicinal Uses

*Frond tea is used to strengthen mucosal membranes, treat coughs, throat congestion, and respiratory irritation caused by air pollution.

References

* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500026 Flora of North America: "Adiantum aleuticum"]
* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?401924 Germplasm Resources Information Network: "Adiantum aleuticum"]
* [http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/nativeplants/Adiantum_aleuticum.html]
* [http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Adiantum+pedatum]

External links

* [http://nefern.info/picpages/adialepx.htm "Western Maidenhair" photo by George Newman at "Ferns et al. of New England"]