Cnemidaria apiculata
Cnemidaria apiculata
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
Cnemidaria apiculata is an evergreen fern producing a rosette of fronds, each up to 1.5 metres long, on a short stem[ 585 Title A Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Cnemidaria (Cyatheaceae). Publication Author Stoltze R.G. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Field Museum; Chicago. Year 1974 ISBN 0015-0746 Description A treatment of the genus Cnemidaria. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. The spores are sometimes gathered from the wild for local medicinal use.