Campyloneurum angustifolium
(Sw.) Fée
Polypodiaceae
Campyloneurum difforme T. Moore
Campyloneurum ensifolium (Willd.) J. Sm.
Campyloneurum taeniosum (Willd.) Fée
Cyrtophlebium angustifolium (Sw.) J. Sm.
Cyrtophlebium difforme Lodd.
Goniophlebium angustifolium (Sw.) Brack.
Grammitis angustifolia (Sw.) Heward
Marginaria angustifolia (Sw.) C.Presl
Marginaria ensifolia (Willd.) C.Presl
Polypodium angustifolium Sw.
Polypodium calaguala Ruiz
Polypodium difforme (Lodd.) Kunze
Polypodium ensifolium Willd.
Polypodium taeniosum Willd.
Common Name: Narrow-Leaf Strap Fern
Plant growing in the Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg, Munich, Germany
Photograph by: Daderot
Public domain
Plant growing in the Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg, Munich, Germany
Photograph by: Daderot
Public domain
Plant growing in the Botanic Gardens, Sydney - in the Arc Glasshouse
Photograph by: Tony Rodd
Spore-producing, fertile fronds
Photograph by: Tony Rodd
General Information
Narrow-leaf strap fern is an epiphytic fern with fronds growing up to 70cm tall from a short, creeping rhizome[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The plant is used for medicinal purposes by the Chinchero tribes in southern Peru, where it is sometimes transplanted into home gardens[
].
Known Hazards
Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
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[
172- Title
- Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Schofield. J. J.
- Publisher
- Alaska Northwest Books; Alaska
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 0882403699
- Description
- A nice guide to some useful plants in that area.
].
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
270- Title
- Flora of N. America
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
,
489- Title
- Ferns and Fern Allies of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A flora of the ferns of Guatemala, giving some plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, through Central America to Mexico and through the Caribbean to Florida.
Habitat
Forming clumps on tree trunks or in crevices of rocks, in open or shady places from low to montane
forests, at elevations of 100 - 2,500 metres, occasionally to 3,600 metres[
488- Title
- Pteridophyta of Peru
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tryon R.M.: Stolze R.G.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A flora of the fern species in Peru. It cam be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Fern |
| Height | 0.70 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A very variable species, with several different forms being recognized[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant is diaphoretic and pectoral[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. It is used in the treatment of fevers and dropsy[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
Cooking the leaves of this fern and drinking the decoction before meals is reputed to be a remedy for throat infection and asthma[
,
489- Title
- Ferns and Fern Allies of Guatemala
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Field Museum of Natural History
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A flora of the ferns of Guatemala, giving some plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Spores -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
