Adiantum.~\ 
FERNS. 
59 
ADIANTUM, Linn. MAIDEN-HAIR. 
(From a, without, and Siavm, moisture; the plants never being wet.) 
• 2 > * nnu ^ es °f Adiantum capillus-veneris, showing the position of the sori and 
tndusiums. B, an indusium removed, showing the attachment of the sori, one 
tndusium covering several. C, theca and ring. D, spore. 
A very beautiful, delicate, and interesting genus of sixty-three species, indi- 
genous to the southern countries of Europe and the tropical regions, this country 
being the northern limit of them all. The sori are arranged in spots along the 
margin of the pinnules, and covered by part of the frond reflexed. 
ADIANTUM CAPILLUS-VENERIS. 
TRUE MAIDEN-HAIR. 
(Plate VI, fig. 3.) 
Cha. — Frond twice pinnate. Pinnules alternate, wedge-shaped, 
lobed, on capillary petioles. Indusium oblong. 
Syn. — Adiantum capillus-veneris, Linn., Willd., Smith, Bolt., Dicks., Hook., 
Mack . — Adiantum capillus, Swz . — Adiantum fontanum, Salisb., Gray . — 
Adiantum coriandrifolium, Lam. — Capillus-veneris verus, Dill, in Ray’s 
Syn., Ger. 
Fig. — E. B. 1564. — Bolt. 29. — Jacq. Misc. t. 7. — Ger. 1143 (bad). — Newm. 9. 
Des. — Root slightly creeping and very hairy, Rachis slender, 
shining, rigid, purplish-black, without pinnae on the lower part. 
Pinnae alternate, in young fronds lobed only, afterwards pinnate. 
Pinnules wedge-shaped, crenate or cleft at the top, alternate. Sori 
marginal, in spots, one near the end of each lobe of the pinnule, 
the apex of which is turned over, forming a white, oblong cover, to 
which the fruit itself is attached. 
The manner of the expansion of this plant is very singular and interesting. 
The young frond is but slightly circinate in vernation, appearing at first with 
only one or two small wedge-shaped pinnules; after a time these split into 
lobes, which lobes become wider, long-stalked, and detached from each other, 
forming separate wedge-shaped pinnules, exactly similar to those from which 
they were detached ; and if the plant be luxuriant, these again divide in a similar 
manner; thus some fronds are found pinnate, others twice, and sometimes 
thrice pinnate. The whole plant forms an interesting object for the microscope, 
particularly the membranous indusium, which is beautifully veined. The ring 
of the theca also is very different from that of any other British Fern. (See cut 
of the genus.) 
