Adiantum Linn. of Adiantaceae family is one of the most common and widely distributed species. Ethnomedicinally, the genus is important and popularly known as "Hansraj" in Ayurvedic System of Medicine. It has been used in cold, tumors of spleen, liver and other viscera, skin diseases, bronchitis and
Crude drugs derived from Adiantum species are used as febrifuge, antidote, diuretic, tonic, etc. Some commercial samples of these drugs are composed of finely cut ultimate pinnules only, which have false indusia and spores. In this paper, in order to establish a classification method based on the