Athyrium niponicum (Mett.) Hance
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Athyrium niponicum

Family: ASPLENIACEAE
Genus: Athyrium
Species: niponicum (Mett.) Hance
Common names: Painted Lady Fern
Distribution summary: China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H7 - Very hardy
Habitat: Deciduous forests, damp, shady spots
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Far East (L)
Reason for growing: Medicinal

Additional Notes

Athyrium niponicum (Mett.) Hance var. pictum (Maxwell) Fraser-Jenk. Woodsiaceae. Japanese Painted fern. Hardy fern. Distribution: Japan. Young fronds are boiled and eaten in Japan. However after the discovery of thaiminases in certain ferns Pteridum aquilum (bracken), Marsilea drummondii and Cheilanthes sieberi cautions are given regarding the risk of thiaminase in all ferns. It can be mostly removed by boiling, but otherwise causes vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency and beri-beri in a matter of weeks. Eating Bracken fern also casues cancer, as do the spores, but I could find no report of other ferns being toxic.

Oakeley, Dr. Henry F. (2013). Wellcome Library notes. Link

Previously grown as Athyrium niponicum var. pictum. AT 20/01/2021

Plants of the World online, Kew Science http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17055840-1 Link

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