Common Name:

General Information

Drynaria quercifolia is a robust,deciduous, epiphytic fern with a long, creeping rhizome, growing up to 1 metre tall. It produces two types of annual frond - short, sterile ones up to 40cm 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 root is used in Ayurveda. It is gathered from the wild for local medicinal use and also for sale in local markets. 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, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Fiji.

Habitat

An epiphyte, found growing on tree trunks, rocks and cliff faces in tropical forests and scrub[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Fern
Height	1.00 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

None known

Medicinal

The rhizome is astringent, bitter and tonic to the bowels[, ]. It is used in the treatment of typhoid, dyspepsia and coughs[].
The rhizome is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine, where the boiled decoction is taken orally for its anti-pyretic properties; and is used as a treatment for tuberculosis , diarrhoea, cholera, fever, typhoid, syphilis and skin diseases[].

An extract of the fern has been shown to be capable of inhibiting wildtype and multidrug-resistant bacteria such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Streptococcus- beta-haemolyticus[]
The fertile fronds have shown a very high antioxidant activity[].
The fronds have shown good tyrosinase inhibition[]

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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