# licorice fern (*Polypodium glycyrrhiza*) The licorice fern is a lovely green plant that grows in shady, moist places. Its leaves are long and feathery, making it look like a soft, green feather in the forest. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 10 - **Habitat:** Forests ![licorice fern](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Polypodium_glycyrrhiza.jpg&width=800) Photo: J Brew, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Polypodium_glycyrrhiza.jpg) ## Appearance The licorice fern has bright green, leathery fronds that are deeply lobed and taper at both ends. Its fronds emerge from a creeping rhizome and often grow in dense clusters, making it visually distinct from many ground-dwelling ferns. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Polypodiopsida - **Order:** Polypodiales - **Family:** Polypodiaceae - **Genus:** Polypodium ## Interesting facts - Ferns are ancient plants; licorice fern ancestors lived alongside dinosaurs! - Its underground stem tastes exactly like black licorice, giving it its name! - Licorice ferns launch millions of microscopic spores into the air to find new homes! - This fern can often be found growing \*on\* mossy trees, not just in the ground! ## Special abilities - **Tree Climber:** Licorice fern can grow directly on tree trunks and mossy rocks, which helps it reach sunlight in dense, shady forests. - **Spore Spreader:** Licorice fern reproduces with tiny spores instead of seeds, allowing it to spread widely without needing flowers or pollinators. - **Sweet Root:** Licorice fern has a thick, creeping rhizome that stores sugars, giving it a sweet, licorice-like flavor when chewed. - **Winter Green:** Licorice fern keeps its green fronds all year, allowing it to continue making food even during colder months. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-50 cm - **Spread:** 15-75 cm - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Young fronds are occasionally browsed by deer. - **Eats:** [Black slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Slugs and snails sometimes feed on its fronds. - **Shelter:** [Douglas fir](https://www.snappit.app/explore/douglas-fir) (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) — Often grows epiphytically on the trunks of these trees. ## Traits - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Symbiotic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/symbiotic): Describes a relationship between two different species where they live in close association, often benefiting one or both. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless an adult says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify licorice fern? Compare frond shape, how the leaflets are arranged, the stalk, and any spore clusters you can see. A single detached leaflet often hides the plant's overall growth pattern. Fern Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is licorice fern? 10-50 cm ### How wide does licorice fern spread? 15-75 cm ### Is licorice fern edible? Yes ### Is licorice fern toxic? None ### What is licorice fern's lifecycle? Perennial ### Where is licorice fern usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cougar-mountain-regional-wildland-park) — Washington, US · Park - [E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/e-e-wilson-wildlife-area) — Oregon, US · Nature Reserve - [Lower Cushman Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lower-cushman-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [Pioneer Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pioneer-square) — Washington, US · Neighborhood - [Santiam State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/santiam-state-forest) — Oregon, US · Forest - [Sitka National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sitka-national-historical-park) — US · National Park [View all places to see licorice fern](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/licorice-fern) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Licorice Fern: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/licorice-fern)