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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Bermuda Maidenhair Fern
| image = ‎
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Bermuda Maidenhair (''Adiantum bellum'')
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Pteridophyta]]
| classis = [[Pteridopsida]]
| ordo = [[Pteridales]]
| familia = [[Adiantaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Adiantum]]''
| species = '''''A. bellum'''''
| binomial = ''Adiantum bellum''
| binomial_authority = T. Moore
}}

'''''Adiantum bellum''''' ('''Bermuda Maidenhair Fern''') is a species of [[fern]] in the genus ''[[Adiantum]]'', native to [[Bermuda]]. It is one of 19 native Bermuda fern species and the only native maidenhair (g. ''Adiantum'').<ref>''Adiantum capillus'' which now grows wild was introduced by Governor Lefroy. Gilbert, Benjamin D. (December 1898) "Revision of the Bermuda Ferns" ''Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club'' 25(12): pp. 593-604, p. 595</ref> It is also the most prolific fern on the island.<ref>[http://bermuda-online.org/flora.htm "Bermuda's Flora" ''Bermuda Online'']</ref><ref name="Phillips">Phillips-Watlington, Christine (1996) ''Bermuda's Botanical Wonderland: a field guide'' Macmillan Education, London, ISBN 0333606523 </ref><ref name="Rugg">Rugg, Harold Goddard (January 1912) "Random Notes on Bermuda Ferns" ''American Fern Journal'' 2(1): pp. 16-18</ref> It is only found on Bermuda and surrounding islands; however the [[IPNI]] reports it also found in [[Guyana|Guiana]].<ref>[http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=17009070-1&back_page=%2Fipni%2FeditSimplePlantNameSearch.do%3Ffind_wholeName%3DAdiantum%2Bbellum%26output_format%3Dnormal "Adiantaceae ''Adiantum bellum'' Moore" ''The International Plant Names Index'']</ref>

Bermuda Maidenhair Fern is deciduous. In the wild it grows in crevices, on cliffs and under rock ledges, in roadside verge, and terrestrially on hillsides. It does require moisture and shade, and is often prolific near streams if in well-drained sites.<ref name="Phillips"/><ref name="Rugg"/><ref name="Gilbert">Gilbert, Benjamin D. (December 1898) "Revision of the Bermuda Ferns" ''Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club'' 25(12): pp. 593-604</ref> The delicate [[frond]]s grow to 5-30 cm long, and are fan-shaped, light to medium green with black stems ([[Stipe (botany)|stipes]] and [[rachis]]es).<ref>Moore, Thomas (1879) ''Gardener's Chronicle'' 2<sup>nd</sup> series, 11: 172 f. 24</ref><ref name="Gilbert"/> Benjamin D. Gilbert described a variety of ''Adiantum bellum'' which he called ''walsingense''<ref name="Gilbert"/>; however, it is believed that this is just a variety produced by better soil and moisture conditions.<ref name="Rugg"/>

Bermuda Maidenhair Fern is sometimes grown in gardens; however it is not hardy and does better indoors.<ref>Taylor, Earle W. (October 1963) "A Fern Garden at the Fresno Museum" ''American Fern Journal'' 53(4): pp. 159-165, p. 163 </ref>

==Notes==
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{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://nefern.info/picpages/adibelpx.htm "Bermuda Maidenhair" photo by Don Lubin at ''Ferns et al. of New England'']
*[http://www.zipcodezoo.com/Plants/A/Adiantum_bellum.asp "''Adiantum bellum'' (Bermuda Maidenhair Fern)" ''Zipcode Zoo'']

[[Category:Pteridophyta]]
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