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Davallia trichomanoides
Blume
Squirrel's Foot Fern
Davalliaceae
Davallia trichomanoides is a species of fern in the family Davalliaceae. It is widespread in East Asia, and is sometimes grown as an ornamental.
Description
Davallia trichomanoides has rhizomes that are 3 to 8 mm in diameter. Scales are flat, brown, and narrowly pointed, about 4 to 8 mm long and about 1 mm long. Leaves are triangular, tripinnate to quadripinnately compound (especially near the base), 10 to 35 cm long and 9 to 25 cm wide. The stipe is pale, 4.5 to 20 cm long, with few or no scales. Leaflets are triangular, 5 to 19 cm long and 3 to 12 cm wide on a stalk that is up to 6 mm. Leaflets near the end are narrower, lobed, 5 to 27 cm long and 2 to 6 mm wide. Sori are tiny, 1.2 to 2 mm long and 0.5 to 1 mm wide, attached at the point where veins forked. Indusia are pouch-shaped and oblong (Wu et al. 2013).
Uses
​Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Davallia trichomanoides is grown as an ornamental because of its attractive, finely divided leaves. It prefers partial shade and moist but well-drained soil (RHS). The plant also has a few medicinal uses; its rhizome is used to treat parasitic worms, and its sporophylls have antibacterial and antifungal properties (Quattrocchi 2012).
Distribution
This plant tends to grow on plants on rocks; its habitat is usually wet (sometimes dry and exposed), and it grows at an altitude of 100 to 3500 m. It is widespread, found in Japan, the Korean Peninsula, eastern and southern China, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea (Wu et al. 2013).
Status
References
RHS (Royal Horticultural Society). Davallia mariesii. RHS Gardening. [accessed 2019 Jun 15]. http://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/5361/Davallia-mariesii/Details
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.
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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