Maidenhair fern

Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) belong to the subfamily Adiantaceae. As they require moisture they often grow on shaded banks along small perennial streams as well as cliff faces. Their distribution is fairly scattered in the country and they can be observed in the Baines Mountains near the Kunene River, the Zambezi Region (formerly the Caprivi Strip) and inland near Otjiwarongo or south-west of Rehoboth.

This is a fast-growing fern that can be recognised by flat, heart-shaped leaflets supported by thin, black stems. Traditional uses include to assist in head and chest colds, asthma and coughs. They require a lot of water and do not grow in direct sunlight and are half-hardy towards frost.