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- Adiantum pedatum
Adiantum pedatum — northern maidenhair fern
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New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
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Facts
Maidenhair fern is found in rich, moist forests throughout New England. It has a distinctive dark, wiry stem and rachis. Both the entire blade and individual pinnules (sub-leaflets) are fan-shaped. Native Americans made use of this plant to treat a variety of conditions, including rheumatism, fever, heart disease, and asthma, as well as using the stems in basketry and to insert in a pierced ear lobe to keep it from closing.
Habitat
Forests, talus and rocky slopes
Characteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Leaf divisions
- the leaf blade is three times compound (divided into leaflets, which are further divided into leaflets, which are further divided into leaflets), or more
- Plant growth form
- the leaves grow from a rhizome growing at or below the ground
- Spore-bearing leaflets
- the spore-bearing fronds are similar in size and shape to the sterile fronds
- Sorus shape
- there are no sori, or they are concealed in leaf segments or hardened, capsule-like structures derived from a modified leaflet
- Leaf stalk scales
-
- the leaf stalk has scales
- there are no scales on the leaf stalk
- Leaf stalk hairs
-
- the leaf stalk has hairs
- there are no hairs on the leaf stalk
- Leaf blade length
- 15–30 cm
- Leaf vein tips
- the veins go all the way to the edge of the leaf blade
-
Growth form
- Life form
- the plant is herbaceous and terrestrial
- Life stage
- the plant is visible as a typical leaf-bearing fern (sporophyte)
- Spore-bearing leaflets
- the spore-bearing fronds are similar in size and shape to the sterile fronds
-
Leaves
- Features of leaves
- the petiole (leaf stalk or stipe) appears to fork into two equal halves
- Leaf blade length
- 15–30 cm
- Leaf blade shape
- the leaf blades are roughly fan-shaped
- Leaf blade tip shape
- the tip of the leaf blade is a blunt point (obtuse)
- Leaf blade width
- At least 15 cm
- Leaf divisions
- the leaf blade is three times compound (divided into leaflets, which are further divided into leaflets, which are further divided into leaflets), or more
- Leaf lifespan
- the leaves drop off in winter
- Leaf stalk color
- red or red-brown to purple or black
- Leaf stalk hairs
-
- the leaf stalk has hairs
- there are no hairs on the leaf stalk
- Leaf stalk length
- 100–600 mm
- Leaf stalk relative length
- the leaf stalk is more than three quarters as long as the blade
- Leaf stalk scale location
- the scales are present only on the lower half of the leaf stalk
- Leaf stalk scales
-
- the leaf stalk has scales
- there are no scales on the leaf stalk
- Leaf stalk vessels
- 1 bundle, U-shaped
- Leaf vein branching
- the secondary veins of the leaf blade branch dichotomously (two equal branches at each branch point)
- Leaf vein tips
- the veins go all the way to the edge of the leaf blade
- Leaflet stalks
- the leaflets are stalked
- Lobe or leaflet length
- 40–170 mm
- Lobe or leaflet shape
- the lobe or leaflet is rectangular but with rounded ends (oblong)
- Lobe or leaflet width
- Up to 40 mm
- Plant growth form
- the leaves grow from a rhizome growing at or below the ground
- final leaf segment margin
- the topmost lobe or leaflet of the leaf blade has a smooth or lobed edge
-
Place
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Specific habitat
-
- forests
- talus or rocky slopes
-
Spores or spore cones
- Sorus features
- there are no special features on the sorus
- Sorus shape
- there are no sori, or they are concealed in leaf segments or hardened, capsule-like structures derived from a modified leaflet
- Sporangia location
- the spores are hidden inside hardened, rolled-under leaf segments
- Sporangium type
- the sporangia are opaque without an annulus and usually without a stalk (leptosporangiate)
- Spore forms
- there is only one type of spore present
Wetland status
Usually occurs in non-wetlands, but occasionally in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACU)
New England distribution and conservation status
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- present
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- present
- Rhode Island
- present
- Vermont
- present
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Massachusetts
- unranked (S-rank: SNR)
- Vermont
- widespread (S-rank: S5)
From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae
2. Adiantum pedatum L. N
northern maidenhair fern. CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT. Rich, mesic forests.