''Adiantum bellum'' (Bermuda maidenhair fern) is a species of

fern The ferns (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta) are a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissue ...

in the family

Pteridaceae Pteridaceae is a family of ferns in the order Polypodiales, including some 1150 known species in ca 45 genera (depending on taxonomic opinions), divided over five subfamilies. The family includes four groups of genera that are sometimes recogni ...

, and is native to

Bermuda Bermuda is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. The closest land outside the territory is in the American state of North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. Bermuda is an ...

. It is 1 of 19 ferns native to Bermuda, the only native maidenhair, and the most prolific fern on the island.Phillips-Watlington, Christine (1996) ''Bermuda's Botanical Wonderland: a field guide'' Macmillan Education, London, Rugg, Harold Goddard (January 1912) "Random Notes on Bermuda Ferns" ''American Fern Journal'' 2(1): pp. 16-18 It is found only on Bermuda; however, the

IPNI The International Plant Names Index (IPNI) describes itself as "a database of the names and associated basic bibliographical details of seed plants, ferns and lycophytes." Coverage of plant names is best at the rank of species and genus. It in ...

reports it also found in

Guiana The Guianas, also spelled Guyanas or Guayanas, are a geographical region in north-eastern South America. Strictly, the term refers to the three Guianas: Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, formerly British, Dutch, and French Guiana respectiv ...

Description

''Adiantum bellum'' is

deciduous In the fields of horticulture and botany, the term deciduous () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed Leaf, leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...

. In the wild it grows in crevices, on cliffs and under rock ledges, in roadside verge, and terrestrially on hillsides. It requires moisture and shade and is often prolific near streams if in well-drained sites.Gilbert, Benjamin D. (December 1898) "Revision of the Bermuda Ferns" ''Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club'' 25(12): pp. 593-604 The delicate

frond A frond is a large, divided leaf. In both common usage and botanical nomenclature, the leaves of ferns are referred to as fronds and some botanists restrict the term to this group. Other botanists allow the term frond to also apply to the lar ...

s grow to long, and are fan-shaped, light to medium green with black stems (

stipes Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the condemned is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross, beam or stake and left to hang until eventual death. It was used as a punishment by the Achaemenid Empire, Persians, Carthaginians, ...

and

rachis In biology, a rachis (from the [], "backbone, spine") is a main axis or "shaft". In zoology and microbiology In vertebrates, ''rachis'' can refer to the series of articulated vertebrae, which encase the spinal cord. In this case the ''rachi ...

es). Benjamin D. Gilbert described a variety of ''A. bellum'' which he called ''walsingense''; however, it is believed that this is just a variety produced by better soil and moisture conditions. The other maidenhair fern that now grows wild on Bermuda, ''

Adiantum capillus-veneris ''Adiantum capillus-veneris'', the Southern maidenhair fern, black maidenhair fern, maidenhair fern, and venus hair fern, is a species of ferns in the genus ''Adiantum'' and the family Pteridaceae with a subcosmopolitan worldwide distribution. I ...

'', was introduced by Governor Lefroy.

Cultivation

Bermuda maidenhair fern is sometimes grown in gardens; however, it is not hardy and does better indoors. It prefers low to medium light, and moist potting mix. The cultivar ''

Adiantum raddianum ''Adiantum raddianum'', the Delta maidenhair fern, is one of the most popular ferns to grow indoors."Bermuda maidenhair" photo by Don Lubin at ''Ferns et al. of New England''Bermuda maidenhair fern Page, Bermuda Department of Conservation Services."''Adiantum bellum'' (Bermuda maidenhair fern)" ''Zipcode Zoo''

Gallery

Bermuda Maidenhair Fern-02.JPG, Bermuda maidenhair fern (Adiantum bellum) {{Taxonbar, from=Q4682652 bellum Ferns of the Americas Flora of Bermuda