Botanical Namne: Adiantum venustum
Family: Pteridaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Polypodiales
Genus: Adiantum
Species: A. venustum
Common Names: Evergreen maidenhair or Himalayan maidenhair
Habitat :
Adiantum venustum is native to China and the Himalayas. It is a slow to establish plant that usually grows on moist rocks and soil with a good amount of humus and dead leaves.
Description:
Adiantum venustum is an evergreen Fern growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a medium rate. It is is very hardy, largely evergreen to -10 °C, when it becomes deciduous. It is in leaf throughout the year. It is also known as black Hansraj in India for its black stalks at the fronds. The soft green fronds are triangular, with numerous fan-shaped segments on each frond, with black stems. The roots are rhizomatous. The whole plant forms a slowly spreading mat.
Cultivation:
Requires an abundance of moisture in the air and soil. Prefers an alkaline soil. Requires an acid soil in another report. Plants are quick to establish on peat banks or in rock crevices in light shade or, if the soil is not too dry, under trees. A very ornamental plant, it is nearly hardy in sheltered places in Britain, though is more normally grown in a greenhouse. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Not North American native, There are no flowers or blooms.
Edibl;e Uses: Not known to us.
Medicinal Uses:
The fronds are astringent, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, expectorant, resolvent and tonic. They are used in the treatment of headaches and scorpion stings. A paste made from the rhizomes is used in Nepal to treat cuts and wounds.
The fern is used for the treatment of cold, headache, hydrophobia, and inflammation of the chest. It is also used as an antiviral or antibacterial drug. The extract from the rhizome can be used to treat diabetes, liver problems and is a diuretic. It is also suggested that researchers have found ethanolic extract of the leaves and stems of the plant, which is composed of terpenoid, phytosterols, flavonoid, and saponin, are things that control cancer activities. The extract was injected into mice. However, the fern’s extract can cause sedation, muscle relaxation and hypnosis in mice.
Other Uses:
This plant is cultivated as an ornamental subject in temperate regions, and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. It is extremely hardy, down to at least ?20 °C (?4 °F), but requires reliably moist conditions in full or partial shade. This species can be grown as a ground cover plant in a shady position, forming a spreading carpet of growth.
Known Hazards:
Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable. 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.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiantum_venustum
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Adiantum+venustum
