Adiantum aethiopicum

{{Short description|Species of plant}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Maidenhair fern

| image = Maidenhair - Chatswood West.jpg

| image_caption = Maidenhair fern at Ferndale Park, Chatswood West, Australia

| genus = Adiantum

| species = aethiopicum

| authority = L.

| synonyms =

• Adiantum assimile Sw.
• Adiantum aethiopicum f. assimile (Sw.) F.M.Bailey
• Adiantum trigonum Labill.

}}

Adiantum aethiopicum, also known as the common maidenhair fern, is a small fern of widespread distribution, occurring in Africa, Australia, Norfolk Island and New Zealand.{{cite web|title=Adiantum aethiopicum|work=Flora of Australia Online|url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/online-resources/flora/stddisplay.xsql?pnid=4553|access-date=2010-07-17|archive-date=2016-03-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220246/http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/online-resources/flora/stddisplay.xsql?pnid=4553|url-status=dead}}

Adiantum aethiopicum was one of the many species first described by Linnaeus, in this case in his Systema naturae in 1759.{{APNI | name = Adiantum aethiopicum L. | id = 22016}} The specific epithet aethiopicum in this sense was the Latin term for Africa south of the then known world, that is to say, more or less Africa south of Egypt.{{cite book | last1=Elliot | first1=Rodger W. | last2=Jones | first2=David L. | last3=Blake | first3=Trevor |title=Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Vol. 2|year=1985|page=158 |publisher=Lothian Press |location=Port Melbourne |isbn=0-85091-143-5}}{{cite book |author1=Marchant, J.R.V. |author2=Charles Joseph F. | title = Cassell's Latin dictionary | publisher = Cassell | location = London | year = 1952 }}

In South Africa the species occurs widely, though not generally profusely, mainly on moist sandstone cliffs in full shade. In the Cape Peninsula it is uncommon and grows mainly at the highest locally available altitudes, generally about {{convert|600-1085|m|-2|abbr=on}}.{{cite book | last = Roux | first = J.P. | title = Cape Peninsula Ferns | publisher = National Botanic Gardens of South Africa | location = Kirstenbosch | year = 1979 | isbn = 0-620-03775-X }}

Adiantum aethiopicum grows in spreading clumps of fronds from {{convert|10 to 45|cm|0|abbr=on}} in height. The rhizomes are wiry and branched. The fronds are horizontal and layered, or upright. They are divided into two or three and have many small wedge-shaped segments, each of which has sori along its margins underneath.

A common plant, often seen growing in moist areas. In Australia it is found near by creeks or in open forest, where it may form a large colony.{{cite web |title=Adiantum aethiopicum|work= PlantNET - NSW Flora Online|url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Adiantum~aethiopicum|access-date=2010-07-17}}

The 1889 book 'The Useful Native Plants of Australia’ records that "This plant is said to possess medicinal properties, being

slightly astringent and emetic. It has been used in Europe in making "Sirop de Capt'llaire," a demulcent drink, employed in

diseases of the chest."{{cite book | author=J. H. Maiden | year=1889 | title=The useful native plants of Australia : Including Tasmania | publisher= Turner and Henderson, Sydney | url=https://primo-slnsw.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=SLNSW_ALMA21105097830002626&context=L&vid=SLNSW&search_scope=EEA&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US}}