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Useful Temperate Plants

Cyrtomium falcatum

(L.f.) C.Presl

Dryopteridaceae


This species has often been misreported as being native to India.

+ Synonyms

Aspidium falcatum (L.f.) Sw.

Cyrtomium acutidens Christ

Cyrtomium butterfieldii Anon.

Cyrtomium yiangshanense Ching & Y.Z.Lan

Dryopteris falcata (L.f.) Kuntze

Phanerophlebia falcata (L.f.) Copel.

Polypodium falcatum L.f.

Polypodium japonicum Hoult.

Polystichum falcatum (L.f.) Diels

Common Name: Japanese Holly Fern

No Image.

General Information

Cyrtomium falcatum is an evergreen fern (though top growth is likely to die back to the roots in cold winters) with a short, erect rhizome. It typically grows in a dense, vase-shaped clump around 30 - 60cm tall with a spread of 60 - 90cm[
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 a popular and commonly grown ornamental, valued especially for its fronds, which resemble holly (Ilex aquifolium) branches, and succeding as a pot plant in cooler climates. The fronds are used in cut flower arrangements[
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).
].
Cyrtomium falcatum has been introduced across the world as an ornamental plant and has spread throughout tropical and subtropical areas, and also in temperate regions with milder climates. Colonization of new areas is facilitated by its ability to reproduce apogamously, its spores being easily carried long distances by the wind, and its ability to grow in a broad range of habitats including human-made structures. Where it occurs in natural habitats it can displace native species, including rare bryophytes and ferns. It has been recognized as invasive in several countrie, including the USA, S. Afruca, Madagascar and Australia[
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).
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
,
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.

Range

E. Asia - eastern China, Vietnam, Japan, Korea

Habitat

Found in a broad range of habitats, typically on rock or masonry substrates, including coastal areas, lowland forests, waterfalls, karst, boulders, streams, as well as on human-made structures; at elevations up to 500 metres[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
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).
].

Properties

Weed PotentialYes
Medicinal Rating *
HabitEvergreen Fern
Height0.40 m
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Cyrtomium falcatum is native to warmer areas of the temperate zone, just extending into the tropics in Vietnam. Hardiness can vary, but many forms can survive winter temperatures down to around -15°c[
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).
]. There are three forms of this species, diploids and triploids produced through fertilization and triploids that have avoided the sexual stage of reproduction and been produced apogamously. It is this third form that is more likely to succeed in areas close to its climatic tolerance[[
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).
].
Prefers a moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil in partial shade to full shade[
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.
]. Good soil drainage is essential to protect the roots from rotting in winter[
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.
]. In regions close to its climatic limit, the crown of this plant can be mulched with straw in the winter to protect it from the cold[
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.
]. Tolerance for dry air qualifies this plant for use as a houseplant[
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).
]. The plant generally requires moist or shaded conditions for establishment, growing well on sites such as stream banks, shaded walls, waterfalls and ravines[
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).
],

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The rhizome is used as an anthelmintic, chiefly for the expulsion of tapeworm[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is moderately tolerant of arsenic in the soil[
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).
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Spores - best sown as soon as ripe on the surface of a humus-rich sterilized soil. Keep the compost moist, preferably by putting a plastic bag over the pot. Germinates in 1 - 3 months at 20°c[
164
Title
Growing from Seed. Volume 4.
Publication
 
Author
Bird. R. (Editor)
Publisher
Thompson and Morgan.
Year
1990
ISBN
-
Description
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
]. Pot on small clumps of plantlets as soon as they are large enough to handle and keep humid until they are well established. Do not plant outside until the ferns are at least 2 years old and then only in a very well sheltered position.
Division in spring or summer[
188
Title
The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers
Publication
 
Author
Brickell. C.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd.
Year
1990
ISBN
0-86318-386-7
Description
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
].
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-03. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Cyrtomium+falcatum>

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