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Selliguea hastata
(Thunb.) Fraser-Jenk.
(no common name)
Polypodiaceae
Selliguea hastata is a species of fern in the family Polypodiaceae. It is native to eastern Asia, and is used for its medicinal properties.
Description
Selliguea hastata is an evergreen fern that sometimes grows on rocks and spreads via rhizomes. Rhizomes are 2 to 3 mm in diameter and are densely covered in reddish brown, lanceolate, peltate scales. Fronds (leaves) are glabrous (without hairs) and monomorphic, not differentiated between sterile and fertile ones, but otherwise highly variable. The stipe is 2 to 20 cm long and 1 to 2 mm in diameter. The leaf blade itself is 2 to 20 cm long; the shape is either unlobed and linear to ovate, or hastate, with one or two basal lobes which may be asymmetrical. The margin is sparsely notched. The lower surface is usually paler and somewhat glaucous, and has circular sori in two rows, between the costa and either margin. Sori are 2 to 3 mm in diameter (Wu et al. 2013).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Selliguea hastata is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of ailments, such as bronchitis, urinary tract infections, and especially boils, carbuncles, and viper bites (Chen et al. 2021). A decoction made from the rhizome is used to treat fever (Quattrocchi 2012).
Distribution
Selliguea hastata is common on rocks, walls, mountain slopes and various other wet or dry areas. It is found in East Asia from central and southern China and Taiwan, southern Korea, and Japan including the Ryukyu Islands. It has also been recorded from the Philippines, although this record is in doubt (Chung et al. 2013).
Status
References
Chen, J., Dai, X., Jiang, C., Fu, Y., Jiang, T., Tang, L., Wang, L., Wang, Q., Huang, G., and Cao, J. 2021. One new protocatechuic acid methyl ester and one enantiomeric pair of dihydroflavones isolated from Phymatopteris hastata. Phytochemistry Letters, 43: 130–134.
Chung, M. Y., Moon, M.-O., López-Pujol, J., Maki, M., Yamashiro, T., Yukawa, T., Sugiura, N., Lee, Y.-I., and Chung, M. G. 2013. Was Jeju Island a glacial refugium for East Asian warm-temperate plants? Insights from the homosporous fern Selliguea hastata (Polypodiaceae). American Journal of Botany, 100: 2240–2249.
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.
Chung, M. Y., Moon, M.-O., López-Pujol, J., Maki, M., Yamashiro, T., Yukawa, T., Sugiura, N., Lee, Y.-I., and Chung, M. G. 2013. Was Jeju Island a glacial refugium for East Asian warm-temperate plants? Insights from the homosporous fern Selliguea hastata (Polypodiaceae). American Journal of Botany, 100: 2240–2249.
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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