Ophioglossaceae FAMILY

Botrychium virginianum

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

2/5

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

Botrychium virginianum is a perennial fern growing from a short, erect, fleshy rhizome with many fleshy roots. It produces a single frond each year, usually 25 - 70cm tall[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeTemperate regions of northern and montane Europe, northeast Asia. N. America, through the tropics of C. America to Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru

HabitatWet forests and wooded slopes, 900 - 3,800 metres in Guatemala[ 489 Title Ferns and Fern Allies of Guatemala Publication Author Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Field Museum of Natural History Year 1981 ISBN Description A flora of the ferns of Guatemala, giving some plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. Rich moist or dry woods[ 222 Title A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Publication Author Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. Publisher Houghton Mifflin Co. Year 1990 ISBN 0395467225 Description A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties. ]. Common to abundant, especially in shaded forests and shrubby second growth, rare or absent in arid regions from sea level to 1.500 metres[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ].