Plant Indices
- Alphabetical Index (Genera)
- Alphabetical Index (Vernacular)
- Cladistic Index
BRAKE AND MAIDENHAIR FERN
Family: Pteridaceae
The brake family includes two genera relevant to our research, which we have compiled into this single article for convenience: Adiantum, the maidenhair ferns, and Pteris, or brake.
MAIDENHAIR FERN (Adiantum)
Family: Pteridaceae
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| Adiantum aleuticum, western maidenhair. Own work -- Walter Siegmund. |
Asia, Southeast
- Indonesian: Rambut Venus
Europe, Central
- Czech: Pleumaňa
- German: Frauenhaar, Frauenhaarfarn, Venushaar
- Hungarian: Vénus Haja, Vénusz Haja
- LINGUA IGNOTA: Karinz
- Polish: Rozuta
Europe, Eastern
- Estonian: Junomähka, Neitsikarv, Venusvare
- Lithuanian: Kapiliaras
Europe, Northern
- Danish/Norwegian: Venushår
- Swedish: Hårfin Bräken, Jungfruhår
Europe, Southern
- Italian: Capilera, Falcia
- Portuguese: Adianto, Avencão, Cabelo-De-Vênus, Palha-De-Camelo
- Spanish: Culantrillo
Europe, Western
- Dutch: Adelaarsvaren
- English: Maidenhair Fern, Spleenwort, Venus Hair Fern, Walkingtail Fern
- French: Capillaire, Cheveux De Vénus
Cosmopolitan
- Africa, Central: Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda
- Africa, Eastern: Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Réunion, Rodrigues, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- Africa, Northern: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
- Africa, Southern: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa (Cape Provinces, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Provinces)
- Africa, Western: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
- America, North: Bahamas, Belize, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec), Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, United States (Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming)
- America, South: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela
- Asia, Central: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
- Asia, East: China, Japan (Kazan-retto, Kuril Islands, Nansei-shoto, Ogasawara-shoto), Korea, Russia (Amur, Khabarovsk, Primorye, Sakhalin), Taiwan
- Asia, South: Bangladesh, India (Andaman Islands, Assam), Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
- Asia, Southeast: Borneo, Cambodia, Indonesia (Hainan, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Maluku, Sulawesi, Sumatra), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam
- Asia, Western: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Russia (North Caucasus, Transcaucasus), Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Yeme
- Europe, Eastern: Albania, Bulgaria, Russia
- Europe, Southern: Corsica, France, Greece (Crete), Italy (Sardinia, Sicily), Portugal (Azores, Madeira), Spain (Baleares, Canary Islands)
- Europe, Western: England, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland
- Oceania: Australia (New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia), Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Islands, Chatham Islands, Cook Islands, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Galápagos, Juan Fernández Islands, Kermadec Islands, Marianas, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Samoa, Society Islands, Socotra, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tristan da Cunha, Tuamotu, Tubuai Islands, Vanuatu
The name means "unwetted" in Greek, as this plant can shed water without becoming wet. It gets the name "maidenhair" because its stalks are thin and black.
In modern flower language, maidenhair fern is associated with discretion (presumably from a maiden's modesty) and secrecy (presumably from the maiden's hair masking and preserving that modesty).
Roux associates this plant with secrecy, which is likely the overlap between the meaning of "discretion" with its magical associations.
Maidenhair fern is a "female" fern of magic (sharing these associations with genus Athyrium), as opposed to the "male" wood fern, genus Dryopteris.
The hydrophobic nature of this plant plays into the name "Venus's hair," as Venus's hair was dry and kempt when she first rose from the sea. In some interpretations of Venus, her hair is actually composed of these ferns.
Despite being named for Venus, this plant was dedicated to Pluto and Proserpina for reasons Skinner confesses he cannot fathom. This is likely in reference to Proserpina's maiden status when her future husband, Pluto, kidnapped her.
By this underworld association's possible importation into England, Skinner posits, the plant came to be associated with witchcraft, sorcery, and all manner of magical mischief.
- Through the shared name of "Venus's hair," this plant has an association with rutilated quartz that is worth exploiting.
- Underworld associations, exploit. These could be related to the relationship to the rutilated quartz of the same name.
- It could be used in a sailor's amulet. The plant is hydrophobic, repelling water. This is apotropaic by sympathy because if Venus's hair is dry, then the sailor's hair is dry (as in, he is not drowning).
- As the male fern repels sorcery and the evil eye but attracts snakes, it would stand to reason that the maidenhair fern assists rather than abjures magic while repelling snakes.
- As "spleenwort" ties to archaic notions of the spleen as a stand-in for anger, irritability, and melancholy. A spleenwort might be used to treat emotional instability or to induce it in a curse. Good reagent for an offensive rage spell in a game like Dungeons & Dragons.
Common Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum aethiopicum)
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| Adiantum aethiopicum growing on Hawkesbury Sandstone at Chatswood West. Own Work -- Poyt448 Peter Woodard. |
Africa, Southern
- Afrikaans: Skadublaar
- Xhosa: Donga, Nzinziniba
Asia, East
- Chinese: Thang Po Zi
Europe, Southern
- Spanish: Culandrillo De Pozo
Europe, Western
- English: Common Maidenhair Fern, African Maidenhair Fern, Black Maidenhair Fern, Ink Fern, Maidenhair, Rough Maidenhair Fern, Southern Maidenhair Fern
Oceania
- Maori: Kowhai Kowhai
- Africa, Central: Cameroon, Congo
- Africa, Eastern: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- Africa, Southern: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, South Africa
- Africa, Western: Nigeria
- Oceania: Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia), New Caledonia, New Zealand (New Zealand North, New Zealand South), Norfolk Island
Biome: Prefers moist sandstone cliffs.
Grows in spreading clumps of fronds about 10-45 cm (4-18 in) in height.
Linnaeus first described it in 1759, using "aethiopicum" to refer to Africa south of Egypt.
We are not a medical website; do not take health advice from us.
It has astringent and emetic properties. The Useful Native Plants of Australia (1889) claimed that the plant was used in Europe as a demulcent (treating inflammation of the mucous membranes) and "employed in diseases of the chest."
- The fantasy writer should exploit this plant's relationship to Africa. Suppose your Medieval fantasy setting employs analogs of Old World cultures. In that case, this variety of maidenhair fern might be prized in fantasy Europe as indicative of the magical secrets of the mysterious South.
- As "ink fern," it might readily be used as a magical writing implement, as a frond-wand for writing characters in the air.
* * * * * * *
BRAKE (Pteris)
Family: Pteridaceae
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| Pteris vittata - Argentinien/Argentina, Buenos Aires, San Telmo, Paseo Colón. Own work -- Franz Xaver |
Asia, East
- Japanese: Saniyo, Warabi
Asia, Southeast
- Indonesian: Kupu-Kupu
Europe, Central
- Czech: Orl, Pérák
- German: Adlerfarn
- Polish: Orlica
Europe, Eastern
- Estonian: Kilpjalg, Sõnajalg
- Lithuanian: Paprade
Europe, Northern
- Swedish: Ormbunke
Europe, Southern
- Catalan: Falguera
- Italian: Felce Aquilina
- Portuguese: Feto
- Spanish: Helecho Aguila
Europe, Western
- Dutch: Varen
- English: Brake, Brake Fern
- French: Fougère Aigle
Oceania
- Maori: Kowaowao
Tropical and subtropical cosmopolitan
Names Pteris for the Greek word for the plant ("feathery"), this is a genus of approximately 300 species.
"Brake" is a Middle English word for "fern," originating in south England. Thought to be related to "bracken," which is believed to have been a plural of "brake," though the etymology is unsure.
- There is an obvious linguistic play on the words "brake" the plant, "brake" the mechanism, and "break" the action.
Spider Brake (Pteris multifida)
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| Pteris multifida, Eric LHOTE |
Asia, East
- Chinese Pinyin: Jie-Zhi-Jue, Zhi-Zhi-Jue
- Japanese: Inoshishi-Shida, Warabi-Dokoro
Asia, Southeast
- Vietnamese: Táo Xỉ Nhiều Khía
Europe, Southern
- Spanish: Enredadera de Jardín, Helecho Araña
Europe, Western
- English: Spider Brake, Chinese Brake, Chinese Lace Fern, Clawed Brake, Ladder Brake, Spider Fern
- French: Fougère D'araignée
- Asia, East: China (China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast), Japan, Korea, Taiwan
- Asia, Southeast: Vietnam
Can control soil pollution.
- Retained primarily for the name.
- Useful for [spider-related] shenanigans.
Chinese Brake (Pteris vittata)
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| Pteris vittata from Antalya, Turkey. Own work -- Meteorquake. |
Asia, East
- Cantonese: Pak Kut
- Chinese: Luo Ti Cao, Shi Wei
- Chinese Pinyin: Guan Zhong Jue
- Hmong: Txiv-Qaum-Roob
- Japanese: San-Shida
- Korean: Tae-Taeng-I
Asia, South
- Malayalam: Garudapadam
Asia, Southeast
- Indonesian: Paku Wangi
- Malay: Paku-Paku Laut
- Vietnamese: Thach Vi
Europe, Southern
- Ancient Greek: Tephrochlamys
- Spanish: Escalera China, Helecho Escalera
Europe, Western
- English: Chinese Brake, Chinese Ladder Brake, Indian Brake Fern, Kali Grass, Ladder Brake, Ribbon Fern, Silver Fern
- French: Fougère échelle
- Africa, Central: Cameroon
- Africa, Eastern: Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- Africa, Northern: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
- Africa, Southern: Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, South Africa
- Africa, Western: Cape Verde, Ghana
- Asia, East: China (China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast), Japan, Taiwan
- Asia, South: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
- Asia, Southeast: Cambodia, Indonesia (Borneo, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., Maluku, Sulawesi, Sumatera), Laos, Malaysia (Malaya), Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam
- Asia, West: Cyprus, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Yemen
- Europe, Southern: Greece (including Crete), Italy (including Sicily), Spain
- Europe, Western: France
- Oceania: Australia (New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia), Fiji, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu
It can control soil pollution, specifically known as a hyper-accumulator of arsenic.
- Retained for name and distribution.
- "Brake" use of generic Pteris, along with any symbolic associations or turn of phrase associated with "ladder."
- One could use this as a curse to hinder one's progress on the ladder of power or on the path of enlightenment.
- It may be an emblem of personal sacrifice, absorbing the abuse of the household or village to shield the next generation and leave them a better place to live.
- As "silver fern," it could be used to substitute for silver in magical action against threats like lycanthropes.
* * * * * * *
Prestigious Plants
- Plants
- Flowers
- Trees
- Ferns
- Moss and Lichen [Pending]
- Fungi [Pending]
- Cladistic Index
- Herbal Medicine [Pending]
- Resin, Incense, Balsam, and Lacquer [Pending]
Other Ferns
[Img 01 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Adiantum_pedatum_09905.JPG]
[Img 02 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Maidenhair_-_Chatswood_West.jpg]
[Img 03 - Adiantum capillus-veneris 2601 - Adiantum capillus-veneris - Wikipedia]
[Img 04 - https://indoor-plants.net/adiantum-caudatum/]
[Img 05 - https://plantlust.com/plants/adiantum-hispidulum/images/1389/]
[Img 06 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/53269962@N06/6725852687/]
[Img 07 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiantum_venustum#/media/File:Adiantum_venustum.jpg]
[Img 08 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteris#/media/File:Pteris_vittata.jpg]
[Img 09 - https://bee-paysage.fr/biblioplantes-fiche-plante.php?nomtaxon=Pteris%20multifida]
[Img 10 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pteris_vittata_from_Antalya_city_in_Turkey_07.jpg]
-Apelian, Nicole, and Claude Davis. The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies : The Healing Power of Plant Medicine. 2021.
-Higley, Sarah L. (2007). Hildegard of Bingen's Unknown Language: An Edition, Translation, and Discussion. Palgrave Macmillan.
-Roux, Jessica. Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers. Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2020.
-Skinner, Charles M. "Myths and Legends of Flowers, Trees, Fruits, and Plants : In All Ages and in All Climes : Skinner, Charles M. (Charles Montgomery), 1852-1907 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming." Internet Archive, Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott Co., 1 Jan. 1970, https://archive.org/details/mythslegendsoffl00skin.
(https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.28515530)
(https://powo.science.kew.org/)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiantum)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiantum_aethiopicum)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiantum_capillus-veneris)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiantum_caudatum)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiantum_hispidulum)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiantum_reniforme)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiantum_venustum)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteridaceae)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteris)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteris_vittata)
Name assistance provided by Claude 3.5 Sonnet.
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