common polypody
ExplorePlants
common polypody
Polypodium vulgare
Common polypody is a lovely fern that grows in shady places. Its bright green leaves look like little fans and can be found in forests and on rocks.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The common polypody has leathery, dark green fronds that are deeply lobed, giving them a ladder-like appearance. Its undersides are dotted with distinctive round, orange-brown spore cases called sori. It often grows in dense clumps, clinging to rocks or tree trunks with creeping rhizomes.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPolypodiopsidaOrderPolypodialesFamilyPolypodiaceaeGenusPolypodium
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Ancient people used parts of this fern to make herbal remedies for coughs and tummy aches!
Its roots taste faintly sweet, earning it the nickname 'licorice fern' in some places!
Polypody can grow high up in trees, sometimes even mistaken for mistletoe from below!
This fern doesn't make seeds; instead, it reproduces with millions of tiny, dust-like spores!
Special abilities
Ability
Drought Dodger
common polypody can cling to rocks and tree bark, allowing it to grow where other plants often struggle for soil.
Ability
Wind Sprinter
common polypody has tiny, dust-like spores that are carried by the wind, helping it spread far and wide.
Ability
Winter Green
common polypody keeps its vibrant green fronds all year long, staying fresh even when other plants lose their leaves.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-50 cm
- Spread
- 20-100 cm
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
Ecological connections
eats
black slug
Arion ater
Slugs occasionally feed on its leathery fronds.
depends on
European beech
Fagus sylvatica
Often grows in the shade or on bark of large trees.
symbiotic with
cypress-leaved plaitmoss
Hypnum cupressiforme
Shares moist microhabitats on rocks and tree bark.
Traits
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Decomposer
Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Don't eat any plants you find outside unless an adult says it's safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is common polypody?
10-50 cm
How wide does common polypody spread?
20-100 cm
Is common polypody edible?
Yes
Is common polypody toxic?
None
What is common polypody's lifecycle?
Perennial
Where is common polypody usually found?
Forests
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
.jpg&width=800)
