Tectariaceae FAMILY

Tectaria paradoxa

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. 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 Title Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. Publication Author Schofield. J. J. Publisher Alaska Northwest Books; Alaska Year 2003 ISBN 0882403699 Description A nice guide to some useful plants in that area. ].

Botanical Description

Tectaria paradoxa is a perennial, evergreen fern, producing a tuft of leaves and usually growing over 1 metre tall. The stems are sometimes harvested from the wild and used locally in making baskets.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeE. Asia - southern China, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines.

HabitatCommon and widely distributed, usually growing in thickets on hillsides and in valleys at low and medium altitudes in the Philippines[ 345 Title Minor Products of Philippine Forests Publication Author Brown. W. H. Publisher Bureau of Forestry, Manilla. Year 1920 ISBN Description A useful guide to some of the plants of the area, though terse on details. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from the Internet. ].