Family Adiantaceae.
Habitat All along the Himalayas from Kashmir to Sikkim between altitudes of 1,800 and 2,700 m.
English American Maidenhair Fern, Venus Hair, Rock Fern.
Ayurvedic Hansaraaja, Hansapadi (related sp.).
Unani Parsiaavashaan.
Siddha/Tamil Seruppadai.
Folk Mubaaraka.
20 Adiantum incisum Forsk.
Action Astringent, demulcent, expectorant, antitussive, stimulant, emmenagogue. Fonds used in chronic catarrh (as an ingredient of cough and bronchial medicines); also in cold imposthumes of uterus, hard swellings and hard tumours of spleen, liver and other viscera.
The fern contains flavonoid gluco sides, including rutin, isoquercetin, astragalin, kaempferol; hydroxycinnamic acid esters; terpenoids, including adiantone.
Adiantum incisum Forsk. Synonym A. caudatum Linn. Family Adiantaceae.
Habitat The plains and the lower slopes of the hills in Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
Ayurvedic Nilakantha-shikhaa, Mayurshilthaa, Vahrishilthaa.
Action Used in hemicrania, cough, fever; externally in skin diseases; used as a substitute for A. capillus-veneris.
The fern yields adiantone, isoadiantone, fernene, hentriacontane, hentriacontanone-l6, beta-sitosterol.
Adiantum lunulatum Burm.
Synonym A. philippense Linn.
Family b Adiantaceae.
Habitat ø Throughout the greater part of India, up to an altitude of 1,200 m.
English Walking Maidenhair Fern. Black Maidenhair (A. venustum G. Don is also known as Hansaraaja.)
Ayu rved ic Hansapadi, Hansapaadi, Raktapaadi, Kitamaataa, Tnpaadikaa, Hansaraaja; a substitute for Taamrachuda-paadikaa.
Siddha/Tamil Seruppadai. Folk Raajhans, Mubaaraka.
Action Febrifugal, antidysenteric, soothing agent in erysipelas. The rhizome is also prescribed for strangury, atrophy, emaciation or cachexy, muscular pain; emetic in large doses.
