Adiantum capillus-veneris
English: Maidenhair; Maidenhair Fern; Venus Hair: Rock Fern.
French: Capillaire de Montpellier.
Dutch: Echt venushaar.
Clades: Cappellus; Adiantoideae; Pteridaceae; Polypodiales; Pteridopsida; Pteridophyta; Plants.
Region: worldwide, Britain; Southern Europe.
Habitat: warm temperate to tropical; rock crevices, cliffs by the sea, on basic rocks; limestone near running streams, bottom of limestone caves, cliffs wet with dripping water; damp positions; at elevations from 100 to 2800; soil well-drained; prefers plenty of light, dislikes full sun; prefers sheltered shady position; prefers calcareous soils.
Content: carcinogens; thiaminase.
Ecology: tolerant of browsing deer.
Use: medicinal; food; source of materials; ornamental; garnish on sweet dishes; dried fronds as tea; syrup by simmering in water for several hours, mixed with fruit juices to make a refreshing drink; black, glossy stalksfor ornamental baskets and mats; shampoo.
Botany
Fern; evergreen; perennial; ± 30 cm tall; forming spreading clump by means of slender, slowly-creeping rhizomes.
Stem slender, black, shining; wedge shaped leaflets with forked veins.