Berry Bladder Fern (Cystopteris bulbifera)

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.

Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable^[4]. 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^[2].

Root. An emergency food, it is only used when all else fails^[2].

Plant part: Root

A good ground cover plant^[4]. Forming a slowly spreading clump, it should be planted 30cm apart each way^[5].

Environment

Range

Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Manitoba, Wisconsin and Iowa, south to Georgia and Arkansas.

Habitat

Shaded ravines, rocky (mainly calcareous) slopes and steep banks^[9].

Light

partial sun

Shade tolerance

permanent shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 5+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

Drought

intolerant

Propagation

Spores - best sown as soon as ripe on the surface of a humus-rich sterilized soil. Keep the compost moist, preferably by putting a plastic bag over the pot. Germinates in 1 - 3 months at 20°c^[1].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. Division in spring. Bulbils are produced at intervals along the midrib and these can be planted into pots as soon as they are ripe^[3]^[6].

Cultivation

Prefers a shady position in a moist but well-drained soil, succeeding in most soil types^[4]. Plants can tolerate up to 4 hours direct sun per day^[4]. Prefers a pH between 6.5 and 7, but tolerates a range from 5.5 to 7.5^[4]. Plants can be grown on old mortared walls if they are in a shady position^[6]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer^[7]. Plants die back early in dry seasons^[4]. This plant produces bulbils on the leaves, these fall off when mature and grow into new plants^[4]^[8]. In this way the plant can become invasive^[4].

References

Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

↩

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

↩1 ↩2

Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

↩

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

↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

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

↩

Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0