Practical
Plants

Athyrium filix-femina

Lady Fern

a deciduous member of the Athyrium genus in the family Polypodiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
deciduous
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.5 m

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The fresh shoots 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[3]. Although we have found no reports for this species, a number of ferns also contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[5].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young shoots, harvested before they have fully unfolded, can be eaten cooked[10]. They must not be eaten raw - see the notes above on toxicity[3]. Used in spring, they are a bitter emergency food[3]. Rhizome - peeled and slow-baked[2][11]. Reports that the root of this plant were eaten by native North American Indians are likely to be mistaken, it was probably Dryopteris expansa that was used[10].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A tea of the boiled stems has been used to relieve labour pains[7][8][11]. The young unfurled fronds have been eaten to treat internal ailments such as cancer of the womb[11]. The roots are anthelmintic and diuretic[12][8]. A tea of the boiled roots has been used to treat general body pains[7][11], to stop breast pains caused by childbirth and to induce milk flow in caked breasts[8][11]. The dried powdered root has been applied externally to heal sores[8][11]. A liquid extract of the root is an effective anthelmintic, though it is less powerful than the male fern, Dryopteris felix-mas[12].

Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Women's complaints

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A good ground cover plant[5], forming a slowly spreading clump[6]. The cultivar 'Minor' has a denser habit and spreads more freely, making a better cover[6].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Environment

Range
Throughout the N. Temperate zone, including Britain, to the mountains of India, tropical S. America.
Habitat
Moist sheltered woods, hedgebanks and ravines[12], usually on acidic soils but also found in drier and more open habitats[4].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Spores - surface sow in a pot of sterile compost in a shady part of the greenhouse and keep moist, this is most easily done by putting the pot in a plastic bag. Pot up small clumps of the plants when they are large enough to handle and keep them moist until they are established. Plant out in late spring of the following year. Division in spring as plants come into growth. Larger divisions can be planted straight into their permanent positions whilst smaller clumps are best potted up and kept in a cold frame until they are growing away well.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An easily grown plant[12], it is calcifuge and prefers an acid soil with a pH from 4.5 to 6.5, but it tolerates alkaline soils if plenty of leaf mould is added[5]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a moist sheltered site with moderately high atmospheric humidity[5]. A very ornamental [1] and polymorphic species, there are many named varieties selected for their ornamental value[4]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Gunther. E. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-295-95258-X

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  3. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

  7. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2

  8. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  10. Turner. N. J. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples UBC Press. Vancouver. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7748-0533-1

    ↩1↩2

  11. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  12. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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