Common name: black stem, black stem maidenhair, giant maidenhair
Adiantum formosum R.Br. APNI* 
Description: Rhizome long-creeping, deeply buried.
Fronds 60–120 cm high, mostly 3–4-pinnate, ultimate segments asymmetric and shortly stalked, terminal pinnae very much shorter than the basal primary pinnae; segments 5–15 mm long, dark green, glabrous, upper margin lobed and often toothed; stipe and rachis black and shiny, slightly rough, main rachis usually zigzag, minor rachis with reddish hairs.
Sori small, commonly 5–9 per segment, in shallow depressions of lobes.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread, grows in colonies in rainforest or open forest, or on alluvial flats near streams.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, CWS
Other Australian states: Qld Vic.
Text by Peter G. Wilson
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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