Pteridaceae FAMILY

Actiniopteris radiata

Edibility

0/5

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

Actiniopteris radiata is a small fern growing 10 - 15cm tall from a short, creeping rhizome. The fronds have fan-shaped leaves[ 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ]. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local medicinal use. It is often grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeScattered through tropical Africa from Mali to Somalia, south to S. Africa; E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka.

HabitatEpilithic or epiphytic, growing in sunny or lightly shaded conditions in rock crevices, at boulder bases, in shallow soil pockets overlaying sheet rock, and among low scrub, in seasonally moist conditions[ 687 Title Swaziland Ferns and Fern Allies Publication Author Roux J.P. Publisher SABONET; Pretoria. Year 2003 ISBN 1-919795-97-9 Description Botanical descriptions of the ferns of Swaziland, sometimes including plant uses. ]. At elevations of 230 - 1,000 metres[ 500 Title Flora of Somalia Publication Author Thulin M. (Editor) Publisher Kew Publishing, London. Year 1993 ISBN Description Detailed information on the plants of the region, often adding notes on the plants uses. ].