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Adiantum capillus-veneris Linnaeus. clade: capillus-veneris clade. Common name: Venus'-hair Fern, Southern Maidenhair, Culantrillo. Phenology: Jun-Oct. Habitat: Moist calcareous substrates, in the Coastal Plain on ‘marl’ (coquina limestone) (NC and SC), on calcareous clay bluffs (GA), and adventive on lime mortar of old buildings and walls (as in Wilmington and Fayetteville, NC); in the Mountains and Interior Low Plateau on limestone or other calcareous sedimentary rocks. Distribution: Widespread on several continents, in e. North America largely southern in distribution, from e. NC, w. VA, MO, CO, UT, and CO south; also disjunct in SD and BC, and in Mexico, the West Indies, tropical and warm temperate portions of Central and South America, Eurasia, and Africa. A rather implausible record for the NC Mountains (Buncombe County, Montreat, mountain ravines, rare, 1923, J.H. Davis, Herbarium UNCC) is mapped as questionable.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: There is some question whether North American plants are conspecific with those in the Old World (Paris in FNA 1993b). This "species" is probably a complex of at least several cryptic or semi-cryptic species.

Synonymy : = Ar, Bah, C, Can, ETx1, F, Fl1, FNA2, G, GrPl, K4, Meso1, Mo1, NS, NY, POWO, RAB, S13, Sf, Tn, TxFerns, Va, W, WH3, Lin et al (2013), (basionym)

Links to other floras: = Adiantum capillus-veneris - FNA2

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
  • Great Plains: FACW
  • Midwest: FACU

Heliophily : 4

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image of plant© Alan Cressler: Adiantum capillus-veneris, Kane Springs Canyon Springs, Grand County, Utah 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Adiantum capillus-veneris, Keller Creek, Franklin County, Tennessee 3 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Emily Oglesby | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Adiantum capilllus-veneris, Rock Island State Park, Warren County, Tennessee 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Adiantum capillus-veneris, Keller Creek, Franklin County, Tennessee 4 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Adiantum capillus-veneris, Cueva Larga, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Presidio County, Texas 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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Height: 1-2 ft.

plant sale text: The finely-cut lacy foliage of the Southern maidenhair adds a delicate note to any shade garden. Plant it in a prominent spot where you can really appreciate its beauty. Mix compost and a little lime into the soil before planting and watch this fern thrive. This species grows best in soil that is evenly moist, although well-drained. This Southeastern native perennial tolerates heat and humidity well. For a groundcover, try combining Southern maidenhair with deciduous wild ginger and enjoy their contrasting foliage.

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native range: s. U.S. to S. America, Eurasia & Africa