Adiantum venustum

Himalayan maidenhair
Fronds of Adiantum venustum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pteridophyta
Class: Pteridopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Family: Pteridaceae
Genus: Adiantum
Species: A. venustum
Binomial name
Adiantum venustum
D.Don

Adiantum venustum (evergreen maidenhair, Himalayan maidenhair) is a species of fern in the genus Adiantum of the family Adiantaceae, native to China and the Himalayas. It is a slow to established plant that usually grows on moist rocks and soil with good amount of humus and dead leaves.[1] It is very hardy, largely evergreen to -10 °C, when it becomes deciduous. It is also known as black Hansraj in India for its black stalks at the fronds.[2]

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.[3]

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4]

Uses

The fern is used for the treatment in cold, headache, hydrophobia, inflammatory of the chest. It is also use as an antiviral or antibacterial drug.[5] The extract from the rhizome can be used to treat diabetes, liver problems and diuretic.[6] It is also suggested that researchers had 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.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Burrel, C. Colsten (May–June 2002). "What to Plant Himalayan Maidenhair, Adiantum venustum". Horticulture: 104.
  2. ↑ "Indian Pteridophytes Used in Folk Remedies". Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  3. ↑ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
  4. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Adiantum venustum". Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Normethyl pentacyclic and lanostane-type triterpenes from Adiantum venustum". Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  6. ↑ "Ethnobotanical Studies on Some Pteridophytes of Southern Nigeria". Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "Anticancer Evaluation of Adiantum venustum Don". Retrieved 3 October 2013.
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