Practical
Plants

Polypodium vulgare

Polypody

an evergreen member of the Polypodium genus in the family Polypodiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.3 m
Spread
0.3 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.

Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[6]. 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[3].

Edible uses

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

Root. Very sweet, it contains sugars, tannin and oils[2]. It is used as a liquorice adulterant[17]. The root has a unique, rather unpleasant odour and a sweet (cloying) flavour at first though it quickly becomes nauseating[9]. The root contains 15.5% saccharose and 4.2% glucose[8].

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.

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[16][11][12]. It can be used either fresh or dried and is best harvested in October or November, though it can be collected until February[16]. The leaves can also be used but are less active[16]. 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[9]. It was also considered of value for lung ailments and liver diseases[9]. The poulticed root is applied to inflammations[9]. A tea or syrup of the whole plant is anthelmintic[9].

Product or use
Alterative
Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Cholagogue
Product or use
Demulcent
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

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

Plants can be grown as a ground cover in a shady position[5][6]. They form a spreading carpet and are best spaced about 30cm apart each way[7]. The ash of burnt leaves is rich in carbonate of potash[16].

Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Potash

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

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[4] but especially in humid shady conditions[15].
Light
partial sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
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 - 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

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

Easily grown in most light soils[4]. 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[14][5]. Established plants are drought tolerant[7]. They grow well on drystone walls[6]. Plants often grow as epiphytes[14][15]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[10]. A rather variable plant, it is considered to be an aggregate species of several very similar species[4]. Only the roots should be planted, the rhizome being fixed to the surface of the soil[1][4].

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

  8. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  9. 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↩5

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

    ↩

  11. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩

  12. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  13. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  14. Knight. F. P. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-900629-78-9

    ↩1↩2

  15. Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  17. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩

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