Adiantum capillus-veneris - Capillaire

Habitat

Exposition

Mi-ombre

Humidité

Humidité moyenne.

Sol

Tous sols. Nécessite un sol drainant.

pH

Sols non acides

Rusticité

Zone 9

Habitat originel

Rock crevices, cliffs by the sea on basic rocks in damp positions[9, 17].

Origine géographique

Tropical and warm temperate zones throughout the world, including Britain.

Dangers connus

• Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable [200].
• Many ferns also contain thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex .
• In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems .
• The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase [172].

Comestibilité

• The fronds are used as a garnish on sweet dishes [5].
• The dried fronds are used to make a tea [2, 106, 115, 177, 183].
• A syrup is made from the plant - it makes a refreshing summer drink [115, 183].
• The fern (does this refer to the rootstock?) is simmered in water for several hours and the liquid made into a thick syrup with sugar and orange water .
• It is then mixed with fruit juices to make a refreshing drink .

Usages médicinaux

• The maidenhair fern has a long history of medicinal use and was the main ingredient of a popular cough syrup called 'Capillaire', which remained in use until the nineteenth century [268].
• The plant is little used in modern herbalism .
• The fresh or dried leafy fronds are antidandruff, antitussive, astringent, demulcent, depurative, emetic, weakly emmenagogue, emollient, weakly expectorant, febrifuge, galactogogue, laxative, pectoral, refrigerant, stimulant, sudorific and tonic [4, 7, 9, 21, 46, 61, 218, 222, 240, 268].
• A tea or syrup is used in the treatment of coughs, throat afflictions and bronchitis [222].
• It is also used as a detoxicant in alcoholism[7] and to expel worms from the body [222].
• Externally, it is used as a poultice on snake bites, bee stings etc [218, 222, 257].
• In Nepal, a paste made from the fronds is applied to the forehead to relieve headaches and to the chest to relieve chest pains [272].
• The plant is best used fresh, though it can also be harvested in the summer and dried for later use [7, 9].

Autres usages

• The leaves are used as a hair tonic and treatment for dandruff [21, 106, 222].

Culture

• Requires an abundance of moisture in the air and in the soil[4], though the soil should be well-drained [238].
• Likes a position with plenty of light but dislikes full sun [1].
• Prefers a sheltered shady position [238].
• If the plant dries out temporarily it will lose most of its fronds, though it will usually resprout from the base [238].
• Plants are not very hardy outdoors in Britain, even though they are a native species [K].
• They only succeed in areas with little or no frosts, growing well on maritime cliffs in the milder areas of the country [K].
• Les membres de ce genre sont rarement (ou jamais) incommodés par le broutage des cerfs. [233].
• Plante très ornementale [1].

Propagation

• Spores - best sown as soon as ripe on the surface of a humus-rich sterilized soil .
• Keep the compost moist, preferably by putting a plastic bag over the pot .
• Germination should take place within 6 weeks [238].
• Pot on small clumps of plantlets as soon as they are large enough to handle and keep humid until they are well established .
• Do not plant outside until the ferns are at least 2 years old and then only in a very well sheltered position .
• Division au printemps ou à l'automne .
• Best carried out in early spring [238].