Common Names
Southern maidenhair, black maiden’s hair fern, lady’s hair, maidenhair, venus’ hair fern.

Description
A perennial fern with fronds, or stems of small leaflets, arranged alternately along a continuous stem. The pale green leaflets are fan-shaped with blunt lobes on outer curved edge. Stems are deep red-brown to shiny black. Rhizomes are creeping.

Flowering Period
Non-flowering plant.

Habitat
Moist, shaded, and limy rocks or step banks; humus-rich woods.

Harvest
Roots and leaves.

Uses
According to existing sources, this plant has been used for an expectorant, tonic, and astringent. In Europe a tea of the herb is used to treat coughs, catarrh, and respiratory infections as well as menstrual discomfort.