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Polypodium glycyrrhiza
  • Licorice Fern

a member of the Polypodium genus in the family Polypodiaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 7
    Zone 7
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Polypodium glycyrrhiza has 0 edible uses listed
Polypodium glycyrrhiza has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[1]. 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].

Edible uses

Notes

Root - raw or cooked[3] The root is sweetly liquorice-flavoured but is thin and fibrous and virtually inedible[1]. The root was commonly chewed for its very pleasant flavour by many native North American Indian tribes[4][3]. It was often used as an appetiser, especially for children who would not eat[4]. Apart from its used as a pleasantly flavoured chew, it was seen as a famine food and was only used when there was a shortage of better foods[5][3].

Root

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Polypodium glycyrrhiza.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Liquorice fern was employed medicinally by several native North American Indian tribes who used it especially as a treatment for a variety of chest complaints[3]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism.

The rhizomes are alterative, carminative, haemostatic and pectoral[3]. The raw rhizomes have been eaten, or an infusion has been used, in the treatment of coughs and colds, chest pains, shortness of breath and VD[3]. The roots have been chewed, and the juice swallowed, as a treatment for sore throats and the spitting or vomiting of blood[3]. A tea of the pounded boiled rhizomes, mixed with fir needles, has been used to treat measles[6]. Coughs have been treated by chewing and slowly swallowing the juice of the roasted rhizome[6].

The roots have been used in the treatment of colds and sore throats[4].

Unknown part

Alterative
Carminative
Haemostatic
Pectoral

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

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. 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 in spring[1].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Polypodium glycyrrhiza. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Tolerates short periods of drought and direct sunlight, but it prefers bright filtered light[1]. Plants can be grown on a drystone wall[1].

Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[7]. There are several named varieties selected for their ornamental value[1].

Polypodium glycyrrhiza hybridizes with P. calirhiza and with P. hesperium to produce sterile triploids with misshapen spores[8].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Polypodium glycyrrhiza. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Polypodium glycyrrhiza.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Polypodium glycyrrhiza
Genus
Polypodium
Family
Polypodiaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][1][4][5]
Medicinal uses
[3][6][4]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[9][1][8]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
7
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
?
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
?
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
0.45 x 0.45 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
?
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type

"image:Polypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Polypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Polypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Polypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Polypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Polypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Polypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Polypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Polypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Polypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Polypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Polypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Polypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Polypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki."image:Polypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  2. ? Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
  3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.63.73.8 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.4 Turner. N. J. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples UBC Press. Vancouver. ISBN 0-7748-0533-1 (1995-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.16.2 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
  7. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.1 [Flora of N. America] ()
  9. ? Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press (1959-00-00)

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Facts about "Polypodium glycyrrhiza"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyPolypodiaceae +
Belongs to genusPolypodium +
Has common nameLicorice Fern +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has edible partRoot +
Has edible useUnknown use +
Has environmental toleranceDrought +
Has hardiness zone7 +
Has imagePolypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg +
Has mature height0.45 +
Has mature width0.45 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAlterative +, Carminative +, Haemostatic + and Pectoral +
Has primary imagePolypodium glycyrrhiza.jpg +
Has search namepolypodium glycyrrhiza + and x +
Has shade toleranceLight shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy namePolypodium glycyrrhiza +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +