Polypodium vulgare
| Polypodium vulgare | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Polypodium vulgare (common name: polypody)
Propagation: Spores - best sown as soon as they are ripe, though they can also be sown in the spring. Sow them on the surface of a humus-rich sterilized soil. Keep the compost moist, preferably by putting a plastic bag over the pot. Pot on small clumps of plantlets as soon as they are large enough to handle and keep humid until they are well established. Do not plant outside until the ferns are at least 2 years old and then only in a very well sheltered position.
Division. This is best done in the spring but it succeeds at most times of the year[1].
Cultivation: Easily grown in most light soils[2]. Prefers a soil of leaf mould and a cool but not too moist clay[1]. Prefers a cool damp shady position[1]. Thrives in dry shade[3][4]. Established plants are drought tolerant[5]. They grow well on drystone walls[6].
Plants often grow as epiphytes[3][7].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[8].
A rather variable plant, it is considered to be an aggregate species of several very similar species[2].
Only the roots should be planted, the rhizome being fixed to the surface of the soil[1][2].
Range: All of Europe, the Mediterranean, temperate Asia and eastern N. America.
Habitat: Rocks, walls and trees, as well as on the ground, in a variety of habitats[2] but especially in humid shady conditions[7].
Edibility: Root. Very sweet, it contains sugars, tannin and oils[9]. It is used as a liquorice adulterant[10]. The root has a unique, rather unpleasant odour and a sweet (cloying) flavour at first though it quickly becomes nauseating[11]. The root contains 15.5% saccharose and 4.2% glucose[12].
Medicinal: Polypody stimulates bile secretion and is a gentle laxative. In European herbal medicine it is traditionally used as a treatment for hepatitis and jaundice and as a remedy for indigestion and loss of appetite[13]. It should not be used externally since it can cause skin rashes[13].
The root is alterative, anthelmintic, cholagogue, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, pectoral, purgative, tonic[14][15][16]. It can be used either fresh or dried and is best harvested in October or November, though it can be collected until February[14]. The leaves can also be used but are less active[14].
A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of pleurisy, hives, sore throats and stomach aches and as a mild laxative for children[11]. It was also considered of value for lung ailments and liver diseases[11]. The poulticed root is applied to inflammations[11].
A tea or syrup of the whole plant is anthelmintic[11].
Usage: Plants can be grown as a ground cover in a shady position[4][6]. They form a spreading carpet and are best spaced about 30cm apart each way[5].
The ash of burnt leaves is rich in carbonate of potash[14].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Known Hazards: Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[6]._x005F
Many ferns also contain thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex. In small quantities this e
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Knight, F. P.. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society, 1980.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Brown, George. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Triska, Jan. Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn, 1975.
- ↑ Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.