Northern Maidenhair Fern
Northern maidenhair fern, Adiantum pedatum, is found in many places in the Eastern United States
iNaturalist map of Northern Maidenhair
The frond shape is unusual. It has circular pattern with the frond held horizontal to the ground.
The stipe is dark purple to black.
The pinna have classic maidenhair wavy margin, seen in other species of the Adiantum genus.
Immature A. pedatum, Mt. Sanford, Bethany, CT, USA
The frond shape is just appearing in this immature specimen.
Specimen from Kent Falls State Park, Kent, CT, USA
The trail up the Kent Falls State Park falls is lined with A. pendatum. A very friendly environment for maidenhair that needs constant moisture. It is a delicate fern.
When there are more than on specimen growing together the exact shape of the frond does get confusing.
Kent Falls State Park, Kent, CT, USA
Kent Land Trust, Kent, CT, USA
Shelton Open Space, Shelton, CT, USA