Polypody fern on oak
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Polypody fern on oak by Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff as part of the Geograph project.
The Geograph project started in 2005 with the aim of publishing, organising and preserving representative images for every square kilometre of Great Britain, Ireland and the Isle of Man.
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Polypody fern on oak
Image: © Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff Taken: 31 Jul 2010
Polypodium vulgare is a common fern which grows from a horizontal rhizome resembling 'many feet' hence its name. This root contains a substance which is said to be 500 times sweeter that sugar (and has been using in the making of nougat). Herbalists used polypody as an expectorant, purgative and laxative. It is often found growing epiphytically on trees, as here, and 'the polypody of the oak' was regarded as most desirable for medicinal use.
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Image Location
Latitude
51.956302
Longitude
-5.059847