Family • Ophioglossaceae - Ophioglossum pendulum Linn. - HANGING ADDER'S TONGUE FERN
Scientific names |
| Ophioglossum pendulum Linn. |
Common names |
| Hanging adder’s-tongue fern (Engl.) |
| Old world adder’s tongue (Engl.) |
| Ribbon fern (Engl.) |
Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1) Medical Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, and Bioactivity of the Ferns of Moorea, French Polynesia / Nicole Baltrushes, May 2006
(2) Ophioglossum pendulum / Indian Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Dictionary / C. P. Khare / Google books
(3) A Review on the Potential Uses of Ferns / M Mannar Mannan, M Maridass and B Victor / Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12: 281-285. 2008.
Botany
Ophioglossum pendulum is an epiphytic fern. Leaves are long, pendant, ribbonlike, up to 120 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, one to several times forked, and with undulating margins. Fertile stalk is with strobilus to 15 cm long.
Distribution
Usually on trunks and branches of trees in damp primary forests.
Occasionally planted as ornamental.
Widely distributed in the tropics.
Parts used
Fronds.
Uses
Folkloric
In Moorea, French Polynesia, plant used for indigestion.
In India, fronds used in the form of a scalp ointment to improve hair growth.
In Malaysia, juice of leaves used by the Temuan tribe as shampoo to clean and treat hair.
Availability
Wild-crafted.