Description:
An evergreen Fern growing to 0.3m by 0.3m.
Polypody has a creeping rhizome, which runs along the surface
of the ground, or substance on which it grows, and is thick
and woody, covered with yellowish scales. At intervals it throws
up fronds, from a few inches to a foot in length, which hang
down in tresses and have plain, long, narrow, smooth pinnae,
placed alternately on the stalk and joined together at the
base. The stalk has no scales. The sori are rather large and
prominent, white at first, ripening into a golden yellow, and
in round masses, placed in two rows along the underside of
the upper segments, equally distant from the centre and the
margin. Unlike all the preceding species described, they are
not covered with an indusium. The young fronds come out in
May, but in sheltered places the plant is nearly evergreen.
Distribution and habitat:
Woodland Garden; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Deep Shade; Ground
cover; North Wall In; East Wall In.
Polypody grows in all of Europe, the Mediterranean, temperate
Asia and eastern N. America.
Hystory:
The name is derived from poly (many) and pous, podos (a foot),
from the many foot-like divisions of the caudex.
Parts used:
Root, leaves.
Constituens:
Edible Uses:
Edible Parts: Root.
Root. Very sweet, it contains sugars, tannin and
oils. It is used as a liquorice adulterant. The root has a
unique, rather unpleasant odour and a sweet (cloying) flavour
at first though it quickly becomes nauseating. The root contains
15.5% saccharose and 4.2% glucose.
Medicinal Uses:
Alterative ;
Anthelmintic;
Cholagogue;
Demulcent;
Diuretic;
Expectorant;
Pectoral;
Purgative;
Tonic.
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. It should not be used externally since
it can cause skin rashes.
The root is
alterative ,
anthelmintic,
cholagogue,
demulcent,
diuretic,
expectorant,
pectoral,
purgative,
tonic.
It can be used either fresh or dried and is best harvested
in October or November, though it can be collected until February.
The leaves can also be used but are less active. 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. It was also considered of value for lung ailments
and liver diseases. The poulticed
root is applied to inflammations. A tea or syrup of the whole
plant is anthelmintic.
Others Uses:
Ground cover;
Insecticide;
Potash.
Plants can be grown as a
ground
cover in a shady position.
They form a spreading carpet and are best spaced about 30cm
apart each way. The ash of burnt leaves is rich in carbonate
of potash.
Safety:
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.
