Maidenhair Fern, Common maidenhair, Southern Maidenhair Fern, Venus Maidenhair Fern, Venus's Hair Fe

Adiantum capillus-veneris

Physical Characteristics

Adiantum capillus-veneris is a FERN growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. The seeds ripen from May to September. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Tropical and warm temperate zones throughout the world, including Britain.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Cultivated Beds; West Wall. In.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Edible Uses: Drink Tea The fronds are used as a garnish on sweet dishes[5]. The dried fronds are used to make a tea[2, 106, 115, 177, 183]. A syrup is made from the plant, which makes a refreshing summer drink[115, 183]. The fern (does this refer to the rootstock?) is simmered in water for several hours, and the liquid is made into a thick syrup with sugar and orange water. It is then mixed with fruit juices to make a refreshing drink. Foraging: Venus maidenhair fern is not a food plant, but the aboveground fronds have been used traditionally for making beverages and flavorings [2-3]. Tea: The fronds can be steeped to make a mild herbal tea. The flavor is light and refreshing, with faint grassy and hay-like notes. It is not strongly sweet or aromatic, but is valued for its smoothness and lack of harshness [2-3]. Syrup/Flavoring: The tea can be concentrated by boiling down into a syrup, which was once used as a subtle flavoring in desserts and drinks[2-3]. No other parts of the plant (roots, rhizomes, spores) are edible, and it was never used as a staple food[2-3].

Medicinal Uses

Antidandruff Antitussive Depurative Emmenagogue Expectorant Galactogogue Refrigerant Stings Tonic Vermifuge The maidenhair fern has a long history of medicinal use and was the main ingredient of a popular cough syrup called 'Capillaire', which remained in use until the nineteenth century. The plant is little used in modern herbalism. The fresh or dried leafy fronds are antidandruff, antitussive, astringent, demulcent, depurative, emetic, weakly emmenagogue, emollient, weakly expectorant, febrifuge, galactogogue, laxative, pectoral, refrigerant, stimulant, sudorific and tonic. A tea or syrup is used in the treatment of coughs, throat afflictions and bronchitis. It is also used as a detoxicant in alcoholism and to expel worms from the body. Externally, it is used as a poultice on snake bites, bee stings etc. In Nepal, a paste made from the fronds is applied to the forehead to relieve headaches and to the chest to relieve chest pains. The plant is best used fresh, though it can also be harvested in the summer and dried for later use.

Known Hazards

Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[200]. Many ferns also contain thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase[172].