Common Name: Flowering Fern

General Information

Flowering fern is a terrestrial fern, with a thick, slowly creeping rhizome. It sends up a number of often widely spaced stems growing from 15 - 40cm tall[, ].
The rhizome is harvested from the wild for medicinal use, and is sometimes exported to China[]. The plant is also grown as an ornamental in gardens[].
Helminthostachys zeylanica is a rare, endangered species in China because of over-collecting for use in traditional medicine and because of habitat change[].

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 - China, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, New Caledonia.

Habitat

Common on the edges of vine forest, in alluvial soils by streams, rivers or billabongs or in rich, organic, black soils on the margins of Melaleuca swamps in northern Queensland[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Fern
Height	0.30 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Eaten with betel (see Areca catechu)[]. The part of the plant is not specified, but is probably the rhizome - and it is probably only for medicinal purposes - see 'Medicinal' below[].

Medicinal

The rhizome is tonic[, ]. It is used in the treatment of malaria, dysentery, catarrh, and the early stages of phthisis[, ]. It is eaten with betel in the treatment of whooping cough[].

The plant has intoxicating and anodyne properties and is used in the treatment of sciatica[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Spores - best surface sown as soon as they are ripe and do not allow the compost to dry out. Placing the pot in a plastic bag helps to maintain a humid atmosphere which promotes germination and growth. Prick out small clumps into pots when they are large enough to handle and keep moist until established. Grow on until large enough to plant out.

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