Adiantum capillus-veneris L.:
Belize (Mesoamerica)
Canada (North America)
Chile (South America)
Comoros (Africa & Madagascar)
France (Europe)
Guatemala (Mesoamerica)
Honduras (Mesoamerica)
Japan (Asia)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
Madagascar (Africa & Madagascar)
Panama (Mesoamerica)
Peru (South America)
United States (North America)
Venezuela (South America)
Caribbean (Caribbean)
China (Asia)
Vietnam (Asia)
Bolivia (South America)

Adiantum amabile Liebm.:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Adiantum schaffneri E. Fourn.:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Adiantum tenerum var. dissectum M. Martens & Galeotti:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Adiantum palmense H. Christ:
Costa Rica (Mesoamerica)

Adiantum cuneatum var. angustifolium M. Martens & Galeotti:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Adiantum cooperi Baker:
Costa Rica (Mesoamerica)

Adiantum amplum var. concolor Rosenst.:
Costa Rica (Mesoamerica)

Adiantum andicola Sw.:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Adiantum amabile Moore:
Peru (South America)

Adiantum glaucophyllum Hook.:
Panama (Mesoamerica)

Adiantum andicola Liebm.:
Colombia (South America)
Costa Rica (Mesoamerica)
El Salvador (Mesoamerica)
Guatemala (Mesoamerica)
Honduras (Mesoamerica)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
Nicaragua (Mesoamerica)
Panama (Mesoamerica)

Adiantum modestum Underw.:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Nile Valley North of Nubia, Libyan Desert Oases, Mareotic Sector, Arabian Desert, Gebel Elba, Mountainous Southern Sinai, Nubian Desert Oases, Nubia, North Sinai, Galala Desert, North Red Sea Coast, South Red Sea Coast

Tropical and warm Temperate regions worldwide

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: This species is globally widespread in tropical and warm-temperate regions, including Eurasia, Africa, the West Indies, Central America and South America (in Venezuela and Peru). The North American range includes roughly the southern one-third of the U.S., with additional disjunct populations in South Dakota and British Columbia (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993). In North America, it is sometimes escaped from cultivation north of its natural range (Lellinger 1985, Gleason and Cronquist 1963). Populations in California may be introduced (Hickman 1993). Known in Colorado (Moffat, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, Montezuma and Las Animas counties).

Stems short-creeping; scales golden brown to medium brown, concolored, iridescent, margins entire or occasionally with single broad tooth near base. Leaves lax-arching or pendent, closely spaced, 15--75 cm. Petiole 0.5--1.5 mm diam., glabrous, occasionally glaucous. Blade lanceolate, pinnate, 10--45 × 4--15 cm, glabrous, gradually reduced distally; proximal pinnae 3(--4)-pinnate; rachis straight to flexuous, glabrous, not glaucous. Segment stalks 0.5--3.5 mm, dark color extending into segment base. Ultimate segments various, generally cuneate or fan-shaped to irregularly rhombic (plants in American southwest occasionally with segments nearly round), about as long as broad; base broadly to narrowly cuneate; margins shallowly to deeply lobed, incisions 0.5--7 mm, occasionally ± laciniate, sharply denticulate in sterile segments; apex rounded to acute. Indusia transversely oblong or crescent-shaped, 1--3(--7) mm, glabrous . Spores mostly 40--50 µm diam. 2 n = 120.

No evident pattern to morphologic variation in the species is discernible, although a number of segregate species and infraspecific taxa have been recognized within North American Adiantum capillus-veneris . In the Eastern Hemisphere, the species is diploid, with 2 n = 60 (I. Manton 1950). Several tetraploid counts have been reported from North America (W. H. Wagner Jr. 1963). Spore-measurement data suggest, however, that the polyploid cytotype may not be widely distributed. Further investigation is needed to determine whether Adiantum capillus-veneris populations in North America are conspecific with those in Eurasia and Africa.

Adiantum capillus-veneris var. modestum (L. Underwood) Fernald; A. capillus-veneris var. protrusum Fernald; A. capillus-veneris var. rimicola (Slosson) Fernald

Damp shaded cliffs, Wells, Ponds and Seapages

Comments: Adiantum capillus-veneris occurs on moist, rocky areas - including moist cliffs and seeps (especially on calcareous or alkaline rocks or in very mineralized soil) (Cronquist et al. 1972), springs, wet stream banks (Great Plains Flora Association 1986), within the spray of waterfalls (Lellinger 1985), canyon walls in the southwest U.S., on building foundations, and on the mortar of storm drains. It is found at elevations from 0-2500 meters (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993). It generally inhabits moist cliffs or slopes (Gleason and Cronquist 1963).

Sporulating spring--summer. Moist calcareous cliffs, banks, and ledges along streams and rivers, walls of lime sinks, canyon walls (in the American southwest), around foundations, on mortar of storm drains; 0--2500 m; B.C.; Ala., Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Fla., Ga., Ky., La., Miss., Mo., Nev., N.Mex., N.C., Okla., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Va.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America; South America in Venezuela, Peru; tropical to warm temperate regions in Eurasia and Africa.

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / saprobe
scattered hysterothecium of Gloniella adianti is saprobic on faded frond of Adiantum capillus-veneris

Foodplant / parasite
uredium of Hyalopsora adianti-capilli-veneris parasitises live Adiantum capillus-veneris

Foodplant / sap sucker
Idiopterus nephrolepidis sucks sap of live, curled, sometimes killed leaf of Adiantum capillus-veneris
Other: major host/prey

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 to >300

Comments: At least hundreds and possibly thousands of populations are extant rangewide, which is nearly cosmopolitan. Arkansas: common throughout the Ozarks (Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission); Kentucky: 31 occurrences documented, but several are general or unmappable records (Nick Drozda, pers. comm.); Georgia: documented in six counties (Georgia Natural Heritage Program); Mississippi: at least 100 populations likely, though the species is uncommon and has been documented in only two counties (Mississippi Natural Heritage Program); Missouri: widely scattered in appropriate habitat (Tim Smith, pers. comm.); Nevada: scattered in appropriate habitat in the south (Nevada Natural Heritage Program); Texas: locally common on seep zones and on creek banks in limestone canyons on the Edwards Plateau, hundreds to thousands of populations are estimated (Bill Carr, pers. comm.); British Columbia: one population known within a commercial resort development (British Columbia Conservation Data Centre); South Dakota: one occurrence, relatively stable since 1898 (David Ode, pers. comm.); Colorado: 12 known occurrences from five counties, but most have not been updated in over 30 years (Colorado Natural Heritage Program).

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 9
Species: 9
Species With Barcodes: 1

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 1
Species: 1
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N1 - Critically Imperiled

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Reasons: Adiantum capillus-veneris is globally widespread in tropical and warm-temperate regions, including Eurasia, Africa, the West Indies, North America, Central America and South America (in Venezuela and Peru). The North American range includes roughly the southern one-third of the U.S., and within this range the species is fairly common and facing few threats.

Global Short Term Trend: Increase of 10 to >25%

Comments: If this species is not native to California, as has been suggested, then A. capillus-veneris has increased significantly in California. Also, this plant has necessarily spread beyond its original range, probably moving northwards and escaping, due to its use in gardens (Lellinger 1985, Hickman 1993, Gleason and Cronquist 1963).

Comments: An individual knowledgable about the U.S. herbal medicinal industry states that trade in the plant is minor, on the order of 150-300 pounds per year, and that it is probably the aboveground parts that are utilized (McGuffin, pers. comm.).

Although this species is common on the Edwards Plateau in Texas, no evidence of collection has been observed (Bill Carr, pers. comm.). The closely related species, Adiantum pedatum is on the United Plant Savers "To Watch List" (United Plant Savers 2000).

Seepages are the primary habitat of A. capillus-veneris. Seepages are vulnerable to changes in their water source, such as pollution or water diversion and loss. The threat of water diversion and loss is higher in arid regions, where water sources (including groundwater) are more coveted. In Kentucky, the impoundment of rivers and streams has inundated large areas of habitat for this species (Nick Drozda, pers. comm.).

Biological Research Needs: Research is needed to determine whether Adiantum capillus-veneris populations in North America are conspecific with those of Eurasia and Africa. Eastern and western hemisphere populations, or subpopulations, may be restricted from interbreeding due to chromosome number differences alone (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993). Also, investigation to determine whether this species is native to California and to determine whether cultivated populations and thus garden-escapees represent North American material would be helpful in determining conservation strategies for A. capillus-veneris.

Comments: This species appears to have had some minor Native American medicinal use (Weiner 1980). It is used for coughs and is sometimes combined with licorice or licorice fern (Polypodium spp.) for this purpose. In decoction or as a syrup it makes a soothing, cooling drink for flu, fevers, and inflammation. It also is used to promote healthy hair (AllHerb 2000). It is reported to be used in the southwestern U.S. for building bones and cartilage; and it has similar uses as horsetails and nettles (Robyn Klein, pers. comm.).

Prices for this species were found as follows:

U.S., Internet: $24.71/120 tablets.

Comments: Some have preferred to divide this species into three infraspecific taxa: var. modestum in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah; var. protrusum from the approximate remainder of the U.S. range (Lellinger 1985); and in addition the typical variety. However, most authors disregard this varietal separation or imply that it is not helpful (e.g., Cronquist et al. 1972, Kartesz 1999). Plants counted in the eastern hemisphere have been diploid (2n = 60); in contrast, "several tetraploid counts have been reported from North America... Spore-measurement data, however, suggest that the polyploid cytotype may not be widely distributed" (FNA 1993).