Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pteridophyta
Class: Pteridopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Family: Pteridaceae
Genus: Adiantum
Species: Adiantum cunninghamii
Common name: Common maidenhair Fern, Puhinui, Tawatawa
Adiantum cunninghamii is a common native ground fern with a creeping rhizome which is found on dry forest floors. This fern has fronds which appear a bluey green colour. The black shiny stipe (midrib) is longish and holds the frond up above ground growing species. It is hairy at the base and this can be used to distinguish it from the smaller maidenhair (Adiantum diaphanum) but the most obvious difference is that the A. diaphanum has only three branches at the end of the stipe. Its tiny spores are wind dispersed.
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