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Blechnum spicant
  • Hard Fern

an evergreen member of the Blechnum genus in the family Blechnaceae.

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Niche
  • Soil surface
    Soil surface
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Ground cover
    Ground cover
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • permanent shade
    Permanent 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
  • very acid,acid,neutral
    Very acid to Neutral
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    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
Blechnum spicant has 0 edible uses listed
Blechnum spicant 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 - cooked. An emergency food, used when all else fails[3]. Young shoots (often called croziers) - cooked[3]. The young tender stems can be peeled and the centre portion eaten[4]. An emergency food, it is only used when all else fails[3][5]. It is also chewed to alleviate thirst on long journeys[5].

Leaves

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Material uses

A good ground cover plant[6]. Relatively slow growing but succeeding in the dense shade of trees[7][1].
There are no material uses listed for Blechnum spicant.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaflets have been chewed in the treatment of internal cancer, lung disorders and stomach problems[4].

The fronds are used externally as a medicine for skin sores[4].

A decoction of the root has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea[4].

Unknown part

Astringent
Cancer
Skin
Stomachic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Soil surface

Ecological Functions

Ground cover

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Spores - best sown as soon as they are 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. Overwinter for the first year in a greenhouse and plant outside in late spring or early summer. Division in spring or autumn. 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.

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



Cultivation

A calcifuge plant[8], it prefers a moist shady nook in the rock garden or a position in open woodland in a moist soil[9]. Succeeds in quite dense tree shade if the soil is moist[1]. Prefers a moist position and a northerly aspect but succeeds in sun and in clay soils[9].

A polymorphic and very ornamental species[9], there are several named varieties[1].

Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[10].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Blechnum spicant. 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 Blechnum spicant.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Blechnum spicant
Genus
Blechnum
Family
Blechnaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][4][5]
Medicinal uses
[4]
Material uses & Functions
[6][7][1]
Botanic
[8][1]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Ground cover
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
permanent shade
Soil PH
very acid, acid, neutral
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Soil surface
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    ?
    Growth Rate
    slow
    Mature Size
    0.3 x 0.3 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type

    "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.5 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. ? 3.03.13.23.3 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.5 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons ISBN 0-460-12609-1 (1990-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. ISBN 0-304-31089-1 (1989-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    10. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)

    "image:Blechnum spicant3.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    Facts about "Blechnum spicant"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyBlechnaceae +
    Belongs to genusBlechnum +
    Functions asGround cover +
    Has common nameHard Fern +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves + and Root +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has growth rateSlow +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has imageBlechnum spicant3.jpg +
    Has mature height0.3 +
    Has mature width0.3 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAstringent +, Cancer +, Skin + and Stomachic +
    Has primary imageBlechnum spicant3.jpg +
    Has search nameblechnum spicant + and x +
    Has shade tolerancePermanent shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceVery acid +, Acid + and Neutral +
    Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
    Has soil teheavy clayture preferenceHeavy clay +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameBlechnum spicant +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheSoil surface +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +