Asplenium scolopendrium Hart's tongue fern (Polypodiaceae) Evergreen fern

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Asplenium scolopendrium
Hart's tongue fern
Evergreen fern
(1 Page of 5)

The Asplenium scolopendrium plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Polypodiaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Hart's tongue fern. Some home gardeners know the variety as Phyllitis scolopendrium. (L.)Newman. Scolopendrium officinale. S. vulgaris.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Asplenium scolopendrium
Common Name:  Hart's tongue fern
Family:  Polypodiaceae
Author:  L.

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].

Mature Height:  0.6   Mature Width:  0.45

Habitat:  Moist banks and walls[4], rocks in damp shady places in woodlands[7, 9, 31], often on lime-rich soils[187].

Propagation Notes: 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. Division in spring. Leaf bases - dig up the plant and wash off the soil until the old caudex covered with 'dead' leaf bases can be clearly seen. Strip off these bases individually by peeling them down the caudex. At the point of attachment they will be green. Young plants can be raised by planting these leaf bases, green tip up, in a pot of loam-based compost and enclosing the pot in a plastic bag. Within one month green swellings will appear around the original point of attachment to the caudex, each of these will develop quite quickly into a young fern. It takes 3 months in summer but longer in winter[200].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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