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asplenium trichomanes - L.

Common Name Maidenhair Spleenwort, Dense spleenwort, Toothed spleenwort, Brightgreen spleenwort
Family Polypodiaceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[200]. 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[172].
Habitats Walls and crevices of mainly basic rocks[17].
Range Most temperate regions of the world, including Britain, mountains in the Tropics.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade
asplenium trichomanes Maidenhair Spleenwort, Dense spleenwort, Toothed spleenwort, Brightgreen spleenwort


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Asplenium_trichomanes0.jpg
asplenium trichomanes Maidenhair Spleenwort, Dense spleenwort, Toothed spleenwort, Brightgreen spleenwort
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inexpectans-barranc.jpg

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of fern
asplenium trichomanes is an evergreen Fern growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in leaf all year, and the seeds ripen from May to October.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; North Wall. In. East Wall. In. West Wall. In.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Tea

The dried fronds have been used as a tea substitute[4].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Demulcent  Emmenagogue  Expectorant  Laxative

A tea made from the fronds is sweet, demulcent, expectorant and laxative[4, 240]. It has been used in the treatment of chest complaints[4] and to promote menstruation[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a well-drained position and lots of old mortar rubble in the soil[1]. Requires a humid atmosphere and some shade[28, 31]. A good plant for growing on a shady part of an old dry-stone or brick wall[K]. Plants are hardy to about -30°c[200]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant 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. The spores usually germinate in the spring[1]. Spring sown spores germinate in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[134]. Pot on small clumps of plantlets as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse. Keep the plants humid until they are well established. Once the plants are 15cm or more tall, plant them out into their permanent positions in the spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Kazakhstan (east), Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Japan (Hokkaidô, Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku), Taiwan NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Alaska, Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Utah), Canada (Québec, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta) AUSTRALASIA: Australia (South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia), New Zealand EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, Italy, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France, Portugal AFRICA: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Asplenium adiantum-nigrumBlack SpleenwortFern0.5 5-9  LMFSM022
Asplenium bulbiferumHen And Chicken Fern, Parsley Fern, Mother SpleenwortFern0.3 10-11 SLMHSNM10 
Asplenium ceterachScale FernFern0.2 7-10  LMFSNM02 
Asplenium ruta-murariaWall Rue, Lance aspleniumFern0.1 5-9 SLMSM02 
Asplenium scolopendriumHart's Tongue FernFern0.6 4-8 SLMFSDM023
Asplenium trichomanesMaidenhair Spleenwort, Dense spleenwort, Toothed spleenwort, Brightgreen spleenwortFern0.4 5-9  LMFSM11 
Athyrium filix-feminaLady Fern, Common ladyfern, Subarctic ladyfern, Asplenium ladyfern, Southern Lady Fern, Tatting FerFern0.6 3-8 MLMHFSM122

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Apr 12 2015 12:00AM

brightgreen spleenwort was stated as a common name, yet that name would refer to asplenium viride, a similar but separate species, which does not have a page on the site.

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