Cyrtomium fortunei
Cyrtomium fortunei
Safety & Hazards
Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. Many ferns also contain thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase[ 172 Title Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. Publication Author Schofield. J. J. Publisher Alaska Northwest Books; Alaska Year 2003 ISBN 0882403699 Description A nice guide to some useful plants in that area. ].
Botanical Description
Cyrtomium fortunei is an evergreen fern (though top growth is likely to die back to the roots in cold winters) with a short, erect rhizome. It produces a clump of stiff, upright fronds around 30 - 60cm tall with a spread of 30 - 45cm[ 275 Title Flora of Japan Publication Author Website http://www.foj.info Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora - an excellent resource. , 352 Title KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder Publication Author Website http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Year 0 ISBN Description Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.. It is often grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its fronds, which resemble holly (Ilex aquifolium) branches[ 352 Title KemperCentreForHomeGardeningPlantFinder Publication Author Website http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Year 0 ISBN Description Basic cultivation details, plant uses, habitat etc for several thousand species of plants, mainly from the temperate zone. ]. Cyrtomium fortunei is widely grown as an ornamental. It has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in various locations, especialy in western and southern Europe and in southeast USA. It is not clear at present whether this is a risk to the native flora and fauna[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ].