Adiantum reniforme (lotus-leaved maidenhair fern) is a species of fern in the genus Adiantum (maidenhairs), family Pteridaceae. It grows in sheltered rock crevices and on walls. It is native to East Africa, Madagascar, the Mascarene Islands, Comoros and the Madeira, Canary Islands and Cape Verde islands, as well as a few relictual stations in the Tibesti (Chad).[1] The leaves are large, round, dichotomously veined and have a very narrow red edge, marking the presence of the marginal indusium on the underside.[2]
Two varieties of the species are recognized:[3]
A similar taxon of Adiantum that is found only in the Three Gorges area of Wanzhou, Chongqing, China was formerly regarded as a Tertiary relictual variety of this species, and recognized as Adiantum reniforme var. sinense. This variety has since been elevated to species level as Adiantum nelumboides. It is threatened with extinction due to habitat destruction caused by the Three Gorges Dam.[4]