Adiantum hispidulum

.
Ethiopia to Limpopo, W. Indian Ocean, Tropical & Subtropical Asia to W. Pacific: Caroline Is., Chatham Is., China South-Central, China Southeast, Comoros, Cook Is., Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Jawa, Kenya, Kermadec Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Mozambique, New Caledonia, New South Wales, New Zealand North, Norfolk Is., Northern Provinces, Northern Territory, Philippines, Queensland, Society Is., South Australia, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Vanuatu, Victoria, Western Australia, Zimbabwe; Introduced into: Alabama, Azores, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, KwaZulu-Natal, Louisiana, Madeira as per POWO;
.

Adiantum hispidulum, commonly known as Rough Maidenhair Fern or five-fingered jack, is a small fern in the family Pteridaceae of widespread distribution. It is found in Africa, Australia, Polynesia, Malesia, New Zealand and other Pacific Islands.[2] Its fronds rise in clumps from rhizomes among rocks or in the soil in sheltered areas.

Adiantum hispidulum was first described by Swedish botanist Olof Swartz in 1802.[3]
Its species name is derived from the Latin hispis “hair” and means “minutely hairy”.[4] Five Fingered Jack is an alternate vernacular name.[5]
Adiantum hispidulum grows in tufts or clumps among rocks or from the ground, its fronds arising from the short dark clumped rhizomes. The dark stipe measures up to 45 cm (18 in) in length. The fronds are divided into long and short narrow triangular or elliptic pinnae, each of which is divided again into smaller roughly rectangular, diamond-, or fan-shaped pinnules. Each pinnule may have 1 to 20 sori along its margins underneath. Young growth may have a pinkish tinge before it matures into the dark green foliage.[2][6]
Adiantum hispidulum is grown as an ornamental plant that adapts readily to cultivation, although may be slow growing. It is more tolerant of sun and drying out than other fern species.[4]
(From Wikipedia on 25.3.15)
.

Terrestrial herb with erect rhizome, 2-3 x 2-2.5 cm. Scales 2.5-3 x 0.5 mm, lanceolate, acuminate, pale brown. Fronds 20-30 x 10-15 cm, dichotomously branched, 4 or 5 times; stipe 10-15 cm long, dark brown to black, hispid; pinnae 2-10 cm long, pinnules 1 x 0.6-0.8 cm, dimidiate, obovate, elliptic or rhomboid, shortly stipitate, truncate to cuneate at base; sterile pinnae serrate, fertile pinnae serrate to lobed; hispid coriaceous. Sori along the reflexed margins, reniform, 1 x 1 mm, dark brown to black. Sporangial capsule 250 x 125 µm, subglobose, stalk 125 µm long. Spores 37.5 x 37.5 µm, yellow, trilete, tetrahedral.

Growing in moist deciduous, semi-evergreen and evergreen forests.
India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Africa and Eastern Islands
(Attributions- K. P. Rajesh from India Biodiversity Portal)
.
/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_0100%20-%20Copy.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_0101%20-%20Copy.JPG/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DSC_0099%20-%20Copy.JPG
Adiantum ? SN 15March 09 : 8 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (3)
Fern found in a small cave in yercaud. tamilnady,
the branching pattern is unique here

Adiantum – I forgot the name (and am in an internet cafe) – the one near or is diaphanum.

I am out of station but i had seen photographs on moblie. it looks like Adiantum hispidulum. Today i am returning to Kolhapur. After confirming i will reply you.

It is matching with Adiantum diaphanum Blume

Yes, yes – hispidulum – that’s what I was trying to remember, but couldn’t! Good!

Sorry for inconvinent ….. Its a Adiantum hispidulum.

/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/20200416_174307.jpg

Adiantum hispidulum SN20420 : 2 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (1)- 4 mb.
Wild fern from Western Ghats Tamilnadu.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *