pronounced: ADD-ee-an-tum chill-ENSE variety sul-FER-ee-um
pronounced: ADD-ee-an-tum ee-thee-OH-pik-um
See Adaiantum spp. for a description of the genus.
Chilense is botanical Latin for 'from Chile'; sulphureum is from the Latin sulphureus, yellow like sulphur, and æthiopicus is Latin for Ethiopian. The mother species appears to be a native of Chile, but the variety shown here seems to be native to Africa, Australia, Norfolk Island and New Zealand. It grows in river and creek banks and in damp semi-shaded positions in open forest, in spreading clumps of fronds from 10 - 45 cm in height. The rhizomes are wiry and branched, and they creep near the soil surface and spread extensively underground. The fronds are 2 – 4-pinnate, stalks of the ultimate segments attached at the centre of their bases; the segments are 3 – 8 cm long, membranous, pale green, the outer margin lobed or finely toothed, the stipe reddish brown to dark brown to very dark red-brown. The fern is capable of forming large colonies.
Some Aboriginal tribes used the fern medicinally, making from the fronds a soothing syrup for coughs and colds.
