A distinct cultivar of Fern plant named Bronze Venus, characterized by its fronds that are light brown when immature, turning light green as they mature, and darker green when mature giving plants of Bronze Venus a tricolor appearance; symmetrical plant habit; arching plant shape; numerous pinnules, pinnae and fronds that form a dense plant canopy; large, spreading, pedate fronds; long narrow pinnules with finely serrated abaxial margins giving plants of Bronze Venus a feathery appearance; and rapid growth rate.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Fern, 
botanically known as Adiantum pubescens, and hereinafter referred to by 
the cultivar name Bronze Venus. 
The new cultivar was discovered by me at Fernselect B.V., Aalsmeer, 
Holland, as a naturally occurring sport or mutation in a population of 50 
plants of the species Adiantum pubescens. 
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by tissue culture propagation at 
Fernselect B.V., Aalsmeer, Holland, has shown that the unique features of 
this new Fern are firmly fixed and retained through twelve successive 
generations of asexual reproduction. 
The cultivar Bronze Venus has not been observed under all possible 
environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with 
variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity. The 
following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown 
in Apopka, Fla., under conditions generally used in commercial practice. 
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be 
the unique characteristics of Bronze Venus. These characteristics in 
combination distinguish Bronze Venus as a new and distinct cultivar: 
1. Fronds that are light brown when immature, turning light green as they 
mature, and darker green when mature giving plants of Bronze Venus a 
tricolor appearance. 
2. Symmetrical plant habit. 
3. Arching plant shape. 
4. Numerous pinnules, pinnae and fronds that form a dense plant canopy. 
5. Large, spreading pedate fronds. 
6. Long narrow pinnules with finely serrated abaxial margins giving plants 
of Bronze Venus a feathery appearance. 
7. Rapid growth rate. 
Bronze Venus is most similar to its parent cultivar, the species Adiantum 
pubescens. Bronze Venus differs from the species Adiantum pubescens in the 
following characteristics: 
1. Fronds of Bronze Venus that are intermediate in development are lighter 
green than fronds of Adiantum pubescens that are intermediate in 
development. Fronds of Adiantum pubescens that are intermediate in 
development are the same darker green color as mature fronds. The lighter 
green color of the intermediate fronds gives plants of Bronze Venus a 
tricolor appearance compared to the bicolor appearance of plants of 
Adiantum pubescens. 
2. Plants of Bronze Venus are more symmetrical in plant habit than plants 
of Adiantum pubescens. 
3. Fronds of plants of both Bronze Venus and Adiantum pubescens are erect 
when young. As fronds of plants of Bronze Venus develop, they become more 
outwardly arching. As fronds of plants of Adiantum pubescens develop, they 
become pendant. 
4. Plants of Bronze Venus are larger than plants of Adiantum pubescens as 
front length and width of plants of Bronze Venus are greater than the 
frond length and width of plants of Adiantum pubescens. 
5. Fronds of Bronze Venus are more feathery in appearance than fronds of 
Adiantum pubescens as pinnules of Bronze Venus are longer, narrower and 
their abaxial margins are more finely serrated than pinnules of Adiantum 
pubescens. 
6. Pinnules of Bronze Venus appear less glossy than pinnules of Adiantum 
pubescens. Bronze Venus pinnules are sparsely pubescent and Adiantum 
pubescens pinnules are glabrous. 
7. Plants of Bronze Venus have more pinnules per pinna compared to plants 
of Adiantum pubescens. 
8. Pinnule tip shape on plants of Bronze Venus is acute compared to rounded 
pinnule tip shape on plants of Adiantum pubescens. 
9. Pinnule aspect is different, that is, pinnules of plants of Bronze Venus 
are flat, and pinnules to Adiantum pubescens are cupped upwardly. 
10. Pinnule arrangement is different, that is, pinnules of plants of Bronze 
Venus do not overlap, and pinnules of plants of Adiantum pubescens overlap 
slightly. 
A detailed comparison of Bronze Venus and Adiantum pubescens plants appears 
in Chart A at the end of the specification.