# black maidenhair fern (*Adiantum capillus-veneris*) The black maidenhair fern is a delicate plant with beautiful, fan-shaped leaves. It loves to grow in shady, moist places and adds a touch of green to gardens and forests. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![black maidenhair fern](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Adiantum_capillus-veneris_2601.jpg&width=800) Photo: Balles2601, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Adiantum_capillus-veneris_2601.jpg) ## Appearance The black maidenhair fern has delicate, fan-shaped leaflets that are bright green, creating a soft, lacy appearance. Its most distinctive feature is the striking, thin, jet-black stems that beautifully contrast with the vibrant foliage. This combination gives it an elegant and airy look. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Polypodiopsida - **Order:** Polypodiales - **Family:** Pteridaceae - **Genus:** Adiantum ## Interesting facts - It reproduces by releasing super tiny spores, not seeds or flowers, like an ancient plant! - Its scientific name, 'capillus-veneris,' means 'Venus's hair' in Latin! - Some traditional cultures once believed it could make hair grow long and shiny! - This delicate fern can sometimes be found growing upside-down on wet cliff faces! ## Special abilities - **Spore Scatterer:** Black maidenhair fern can release millions of tiny spores from its fronds to create new plants without needing seeds or flowers. - **Underground Spreader:** This fern has creeping rhizomes, which are underground stems that help it spread horizontally and form new plant colonies. - **Water-Repellent Fronds:** The black maidenhair fern has unique fronds with a special coating that helps them shed water easily, preventing rot. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-40 cm - **Spread:** 20-50 cm - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Black slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Slug may graze on young fronds. - **Eaten by:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Snail may feed on tender fern leaves. - **Symbiotic with:** Mycorrhizal fungus (*Glomus microcarpum*) — Helps fern absorb water and nutrients. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they're safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify black maidenhair fern? Compare frond shape, how the leaflets are arranged, the stalk, and any spore clusters you can see. A single detached leaflet often hides the plant's overall growth pattern. Fern Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is black maidenhair fern? 15-40 cm ### How wide does black maidenhair fern spread? 20-50 cm ### Is black maidenhair fern edible? No ### Is black maidenhair fern toxic? None ### What is black maidenhair fern's lifecycle? Perennial ### Where is black maidenhair fern usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Great Falls Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/great-falls-dam) — Tennessee, US · Historic Site - [Lost Maples State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lost-maples-state-natural-area) — Texas, US · State Park - [Zion Lodge–Birch Creek Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zion-lodge-birch-creek-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District - [Nojoqui Falls County Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nojoqui-falls-county-park) — California, US · Park - [University of Valencia Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/university-of-valencia-botanical-garden) — Comunitat Valenciana, ES · Park - [Jardín del Turia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jard-n-del-turia) — Spain, ES · Park [View all places to see black maidenhair fern](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/black-maidenhair-fern) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Black Maidenhair Fern: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-maidenhair-fern)