northern maidenhair fern
Adiantum pedatum
The genus name Adiantum is Greek for 'unwetted,' referring to how the fronds remain dry even after being submerged in water.
- Scientific name
- Adiantum pedatum
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Polypodiopsida › Polypodiales › Pteridaceae › Adiantum
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Moist, nutrient-rich deciduous forests, ravines, and rocky slopes with limestone soils.
- Diet
- Photosynthesis (sunlight, water, carbon dioxide).
- Range
- Eastern North America, Midwestern United States, Southeastern Canada
- Size
- 30 to 75 centimeters in height
- Lifespan
- 15-20 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, invasive species like garlic mustard, and excessive deer browsing.
- Safe to approach?
- Completely harmless. Enjoy its delicate beauty from the trail to avoid crushing the fragile rhizomes or compacting the soil. No medical risk if touched.
Adiantum pedatum , the northern maidenhair fern or five-fingered fern , is a species of fern in the family Pteridaceae, native to moist forests in eastern North America. Like other ferns in the genus, the name maidenhair refers to the slender, shining black stipes.
Photo: Michael J. Papay, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/b5fe5e31-421a-474e-90cd-90e8314d4c4a.md