Once thought to be a single widespread North American species, Adiantum pedatum (maidenhair fern) was recently segregated into three - the eastern Adiantum pedatum, the western Adiantum aleuticum and (known only from Vermont) Adiantum viridimontanum. Although the similarities and differences between Adiantum pedatum and Adiantum aleuticum have been recognized in the past (the western taxon sometimes being known as Adiantum pedatum subsp. aleuticum), reproductive isolation (they don't interbreed) and the number of morphological differences drove the decision to ultimately split the traditional species up.
Photographed in UBC's Native Garden, site of a good collection of Pacific Northwest ferns.
Your lovely website has gotten better and better! Love the added info you now include (such as the common name).
Thanks for being there.
hi, i live in central indiana, and i've started a 'fernery' on the eastern side of our house--conveniently located next to the spigot--so I have a soaker hose hidden just under the surface of the fernery.
Anybody have any ideas about maintenance for this area? I have maidenhairs, japanese, ghost, ostrich, etc. and most do quite well. But, I'm always looking for suggestions!
Thanks for letting me comment.
cindy
It is inaccurate to say that the 3 North American species of Adiantum do not interbreed. If you review the literatuire, especially by Cathy Paris, University of Vermont, you will see that A veridimontanum is in fact a fertile tetraploid hybrid of A aleuticum and A pedatum and that the hybrid backcrosses with the parents. All 3 are found on serpentine outcrops here in northern Vermoint.
Thanks, Don. I stand corrected.
Daniel, I appreciate that you have posted my correction about Adiantum. Please also note that A veridimontanum is not limited to the Vt side of the border. It is also found on the serpentine outcrops across the border in Quebec. You could correctly say that it is endemic to the serpentine substrates of northern Vt and southeastern Quebec.
Thankss, Don Avery
I had one of these sprout a nice frond from a pot that had seen no top growth in over two years. My feeling is these are very sensitive to changes in climate and or humidity. Why I even kept a pot of soil with not as much a speck of surface life-dead or alive,is just a tendency from past plant experiences. Not very rare something sprouts...