Some scientists claim that this type of plant has been preserved on the planet since the era of dinosaurs. Perennial plants growing in forests are part of the vast kingdom of flora that inhabited the Earth millions of years ago. Climate change has led to the death of most of these ancient plants. Gardeners love fern, primarily due to its unique appearance. Let's look at which fern of the many species grows in the forest.
What ferns grow in the forest
These perennials are found throughout the entire earth's surface of the Russian Federation.Some parts of the country are home to dozens of varieties of ferns. Some of the forest perennials are used by gardeners for planting in gardens.
Types of ferns
Forest ferns include the following plants:
- Brown's multirow - this plant has a thick rhizome, it can be found in shady areas of the forest, on soil mainly consisting of lime. This perennial is well suited for creating group compositions.
- Common ostrich - it is so called because of the shape of its leaves, which look like ostrich feathers. The plant looks especially beautiful in July. This plant is used to provide a background or for planting large bushes. The perennial blooms well in open, mostly damp areas.
- Common bracken - this fern is distinguished by the fact that it can be eaten after heat treatment. It is easy to spot and recognize in the forest. Blooms towards the end of April - beginning of May. Early shoots of this plant are especially valued in Japan, China and other countries of the Far East.
- Scolopendra leaf - grows in semi-dark, damp areas, mainly on limestone soil. This plant is similar in appearance to the classic tropical fern.
- Chartres shield - in the wild it loves an open, dry habitat. This type of fern is actively used as a component of traditional medicine.
- Japanese kochedednik is a perennial that easily survives the winter, and does not require shelter. It is more common in the central regions of the Russian Federation, choosing semi-shaded areas. Propagated by bush division.
General description of forest fern
Forest fern is the general name for spore-bearing perennials. Each species has external similarities.In the forests you can see entire thickets and dense stands of different species of this plant. Regardless of the species, this plant prefers the lower as well as the upper tiers of forests.
A detailed botanical morphological description of this herbaceous crop is as follows:
- The plant is 30-150 cm high, 25-30 cm wide.
- The fern has a small, scaly or smooth trunk.
- It has a complex leaf shape, mainly jagged or feather-shaped.
- Light green or dark green color - depends on the habitat.
- Leaf composition: stalk and plate with characteristic branching.
- The foliage contains spores, which allows the plant to reproduce.
- The leaves of the plant participate in photosynthesis.
- The sori are located under the leaf blade.
- The root system is well developed: powerful and branched, dark brown in color, oblong in shape and curved edge.
These perennials do not grow in normal nature. In forests they reproduce in several ways, one of which is through spores. Some types of perennial have the ability to carry out the process of dividing the main shoots.
Where does fern grow in the forest?
Ferns bloom on almost every continent except Antarctica. On the territory of Russia, the most attractive areas for perennials are light forests, where there are many birches, aspens, larches and poplars. One of the remarkable advantages of ferns is that they can develop in places where there is a clear lack of essential microelements in the soil.
You can find ferns on forest hills and bush thickets. The perennial also blooms in deciduous and coniferous forests. This perennial in clearings often kills grass of low-growing varieties.The perennial grows and often creates dense thickets in forests that are difficult to pass through. The fern also grows in forest clearing areas. Due to its powerful root system, wild forest fern is a difficult weed to remove.
Medicinal properties of forest fern
Forest fern is famous in folk medicine for its healing properties, one of which is the destruction of intestinal parasites. A distinctive feature of the chemical composition is phloroglucinol derivatives, which include: aspidinol, albaspidin. In addition, the plant contains fern and flavaspid acids. Together, these chemicals cause muscle paralysis in pathogens.
The rhizome and vegetative part of the plant are used to make medicines. Common traditional medicine recipes are suitable for eliminating the following diseases:
- Bronchitis.
- Leukemia.
- Congestion in the spleen or large intestine.
- Radiation sickness.
- Helminthiasis is a helminthic infection.
- Joint pain.
The lower part of the ferns accumulates useful elements, which makes the decoction a unique medicinal product. Among the beneficial properties, it is worth highlighting: antiseptic, cleansing, anti-inflammatory, analgesic. When taken orally, a decoction of fern helps remove waste and toxins that accumulate in the body. Medicines based on this perennial plant relieve ulcers, headaches, and help with rheumatism and chronic constipation. In addition, due to the healing properties of fern, the functioning of the cardiovascular system is restored and extensive wounds heal faster.
To prepare a decoction of the rhizomes of forest perennials, you can use the following recipe:
- Pour 1 glass of water into 10 grams of dried plant.
- Bring to a boil in a water bath and boil for 60-120 minutes.
The prepared medicinal solution can be drunk with the addition of honey. The decoction is useful for the following ailments:
- Colds.
- Jaundice.
- Boils.
- Otitis
- Cramps of the calf muscles.
It is important to understand that the treatment regimen with decoctions or other medications is prescribed by the attending physician. Under no circumstances should you use forest fern-based medicines on your own.
Which types of wild fern are poisonous?
Among the large number of species of wild ferns growing in the Russian Federation, poisonous ones stand out - Male shield fern and Common bracken. Let's take a closer look.
The common bracken plant can poison an animal that decides to feast on its leaves. The fact is that the leaves of this fern contain the enzyme thiaminase, which provokes vitamin deficiency by destroying vitamin B1. This plant also contains other toxic substances that cause cancer in cattle. How quickly the disease develops depends on the amount of plant the animal eats. It is noteworthy that with proper heat treatment, the bracken plant can be consumed internally, and some even consider it a delicacy.
Male shieldweed is a more poisonous species of fern, although the main danger is the rhizomes; the leaves are not so harmful. Characteristic signs of shield poisoning: dizziness and vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, visual impairment, drowsiness. In the future, if urgent measures are not taken, paralysis may develop.
Due to the toxic substances contained in forest ferns, medications based on them have a number of contraindications. Among them:
- Liver and kidney diseases.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.
- Anemia.
- Allergy to alkaloids and other plant compounds.
- Tuberculosis.
Conclusion
Forest fern is a common plant. Not everyone knows how useful this perennial can be. In addition to its attractive appearance, fern contains useful substances that, with the right approach, can cure various bodily ailments.
