Mohria caffrorum
(L.) Desv.
Schizaeaceae
Adiantum caffrorum (L.) L.f.
Cheilanthes fuscata Blume
Colina caffrorum (L.) E.L.Greene
Lonchitis caffrorum (L.) Bernh.
Mohria achilleifolia Lowe
Mohria crenata Desv.
Mohria thurifraga (Bory) Sw.
Mohria vestita Baker
Osmunda marginalis Sav.
Osmunda thurifera Sw.
Osmunda thurifraga Bory
Common Name:
General Information
Mohria caffrorum is a fern producing fronds 7.5 - 65cm tall from a creeping rhizome about 10cm in diameter.
The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for local medicinal use.
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
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
Range
Southern Africa - Tanzania, S. Africa, Madagascar.
Habitat
Forest margins and around the bases of boulders in grassland at elevations of 1,500 - 2,300 metres[
308- Title
- Flora Zambesiaca
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online flora of plants from the Zambezi River basin. It lists a number of the plant uses as well as the habitats and botanical descriptions of the plants.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Fern |
| Height | 0.50 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of mainly subtropical areas, also found at elevations of 2,000 metres or more in the tropics.
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The dried, powdered leaves, mixed with oil, are used for healing burns[
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.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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.
