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Cyrtomium falcatum
(L.f.) C.Presl
Holly Fern
Dryopteridaceae
Cyrtomium falcatum is a species of fern in the family Dryopteridaceae. It is native to eastern and southeastern Asia and Polynesia, and is cultivated and naturalized elsewhere.
Description
Cyrtomium falcatum grows up to 40 cm tall and has erect rhizomes. Rhizomes are densely covered with lanceolate, brown scales. Leaves are odd-pinnate, broadly lanceolate, leathery, and glabrous (hairless) on both sides. The blade is 22 to 35 cm long and 12 to 15 cm wide, on a 15 to 27 cm long, straw-colored stipe. The stipe is 3 to 4 mm in diameter, covered with ovate brown scales. The base of the leaf is slightly narrowed, and the tip is pointed. Fronds have 5 to 14 pairs of alternate, lanceolate leaflets. Leaflets are up to 6 to 10 cm long and 2.5 to 3 cm wide, shortly stalked, pointed at the tip. The base is often asymmetric, with auricles (projections) on the side away from the base; the margins are smooth or toothed. Terminal leaflets are ovate-lanceolate, 4.5 to 8 cm long and 2 to 4 cm wide. Sori are borne on the undersides of leaflets (Wu et al. 2013).
A similar species is Cyrtomium devexiscapulae, which was once considered to be a variety of this species (Ohwi et al. 1965). It is a sexually breeding, allotetraploid species, and its maternal parent is Cyrtomium falcatum; the other species is unknown (Ebihara et al. 2017). Compared to this species, Cyrtomium devexiscapulae is reported to have narrower leaflets with a less asymmetrical base and lacking auricles (Ohwi et al. 1965, Wu et al. 2013). The stipe scales are also apparently dark brown in the center for C. devexiscapulae, while C. fortunei has uniformly pale brown scales (Wu et al. 2013). Identification for most species in this genus is difficult, because of the wide, often overlapping ranges of morphology (Choi et al. 2022).
A similar species is Cyrtomium devexiscapulae, which was once considered to be a variety of this species (Ohwi et al. 1965). It is a sexually breeding, allotetraploid species, and its maternal parent is Cyrtomium falcatum; the other species is unknown (Ebihara et al. 2017). Compared to this species, Cyrtomium devexiscapulae is reported to have narrower leaflets with a less asymmetrical base and lacking auricles (Ohwi et al. 1965, Wu et al. 2013). The stipe scales are also apparently dark brown in the center for C. devexiscapulae, while C. fortunei has uniformly pale brown scales (Wu et al. 2013). Identification for most species in this genus is difficult, because of the wide, often overlapping ranges of morphology (Choi et al. 2022).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Cyrtomium falcatum is used as a garden plant. It tolerates deep shade as well as partial shade; it prefers well-drained soils and can tolerate dry soils. It grows in USDA zones 8 to 9 (Kellum 2008). It is also used medicinally against tapeworms (Quattrocchi 2012).
Distribution
Cyrtomium falcatum is found in coastal to lowland forests, at an altitude of up to 500 m. It is native to southeastern and eastern Asia, Polynesia, and is naturalized in parts of North America, Europe, Hawaii, Réunion, South Africa, and Macaronesia (Wu et al. 2013; Fuselier et al. 2017). It is considered invasive in Hawaii, Macaronesia, and Western Europe in part due to its apogamy, which allows it to reproduce quickly and produce spores that allow for long-distance dispersal (Fuselier et al. 2017).
Status
References
Choi, T.-Y., Son, D. C., Oh, S.-H., Kim, D.-K., Lee, K.-H., and Lee, S.-R. 2022. Species delimitation and molecular diagnosis of Cyrtomium yamomotoi (Dryopteridaceae). Plant Systematics and Evolution, 308: 18.
Ebihara, A., Matsumoto, S., Mazumdar, J., and Yamamoto, K. 2017. Updates of Taxonomic Treatments for Ferns of Japan 2. Athyrium and Cyrtomium. Bulletin of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Series B, Botany 43: 19–25.
Fuselier, L. C., Carreiro, M., and Nason, L. 2017. Invasive species management impacts on native and nonnative ferns in an urban forest spore bank. Castanea, 83: 28.
Kellum, J. 2008. Southern Shade: a Plant Selection Guide. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.
Ohwi, J,, Meyer, F. G., Walker E, H. 1965. Flora of Japan. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution.
Quattrocchi, U. 2012. CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H., and Hong, D. Y., eds. 2013. Flora of China. Vol. 2-3 (Lycopodiaceae through Polypodiaceae). Beijing: Science Press, and St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
Ebihara, A., Matsumoto, S., Mazumdar, J., and Yamamoto, K. 2017. Updates of Taxonomic Treatments for Ferns of Japan 2. Athyrium and Cyrtomium. Bulletin of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Series B, Botany 43: 19–25.
Fuselier, L. C., Carreiro, M., and Nason, L. 2017. Invasive species management impacts on native and nonnative ferns in an urban forest spore bank. Castanea, 83: 28.
Kellum, J. 2008. Southern Shade: a Plant Selection Guide. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.
Ohwi, J,, Meyer, F. G., Walker E, H. 1965. Flora of Japan. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution.
Quattrocchi, U. 2012. CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H., and Hong, D. Y., eds. 2013. Flora of China. Vol. 2-3 (Lycopodiaceae through Polypodiaceae). Beijing: Science Press, and St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
Description
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