Polypodium plebeium
Schltdl. & Cham.
Polypodiaceae
Marginaria karwinskyana C.Presl
Polypodium cartilagineum C. Presl ex Ettingsh.
Polypodium cheilostictum Fée
Polypodium karwinskyanum (C. Presl) A.Braun ex Kunze
Common Name:
General Information
Polypodium plebeium is an epiphytic fern growing up to 30cm tall from a long-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 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
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.
,
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
Central America - Panama to Mexico.
Habitat
In forests, on tree trunks, at elevations from 1,000 - 1,500 metres in Guatemala[
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.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Fern |
| Height | 0.30 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Very closely related to P. Montigenum[
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.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant is expectorant and purgative[
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 -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
