Common Name: Basket Fern

General Information

Basket fern 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.

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

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[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Fern
Height	1.50 m
Cultivation Status	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[].

Edible Uses

Young fronds[].

Medicinal

Astringent. It is used locally to treat persistent diarrhoea and virulent gonorrhoea[].

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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