Common Name: Basket Fern

General Information

Drynaria rigidula is a robust, epiphytic fern with a long, creeping rhizome, growing up to 1.5 metres tall. It produces two types of annual frond - short, sterile ones up to 35cm tall that remain on the plant for several years and have a main purpose of trapping organic material to provide nutrient for the plant, and taller fertile shoots that produce spores[].
The young fronds are sometimes gathered from the wild for local consumption, whilst the root has medicinal uses. The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[].
Many ferns also contain thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase[].

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - southern China, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indo-China, Philippines to Australia and the Pacific

Habitat

An epiphyte, found growing on tree trunks, rocks and cliff faces in tropical forests and scrub[]. Epiphytic, encircling tree trunks many times, rarely epilithic; at elevations from sea level to 2,000 metres, occasionally to 2,400 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Fern
Height	1.50 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of moist tropical areas with a distinct dry season, though it can also thrive where there is no dry season[].

Once dried, fertile fronds can be removed from the plant in the dormant season; the smaller, dried sterile fronds, however, should be allowed to remain, however, since they serve to trap leaves and other debris which rots down and feeds the plant[].

Edible Uses

Young fronds - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[, ].

Medicinal

The rhizome is astringent. It is used locally to treat persistent diarrhoea and virulent gonorrhoea[]. The rhizomes are said to treat similar diseases to those treated by the rhizomes of Drynaria quercifolia, such as diarrhoea, dysentery and gonorrhoea[, ].

The fertile fronds have shown a moderately high antioxidant activity[]

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Spores -
Division of the rootstock. Larger divisions with shoots establish best, but even smaller sections without shoots are able to produce adventitious shoots[].

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