Millions of years ago, ferns on our planet were giant plants, making up entire forests. Today there is a large number of their subspecies, they are significantly smaller in size than their ancestors. The most common among them is the male shield.
Appearance of fern
This is a perennial plant with a thick and short rhizome, the surface of which is covered with last year's remains of leaf petioles and wide black scales. The stem is very poorly developed, it is practically absent, and large dark green leaves, sometimes reaching 1 meter in length, grow in a bunch directly from the rhizome.
Wide openwork sheets are very decorative and amazingly beautiful when they sag under their own weight, bending towards the ground. They grow quite slowly, remain soft and tender for a long time, so they are very easy to damage. On the underside there are 5-8 sori, hidden by kidney-shaped veils. The double-pinnate, pointed leaf blade has an elongated elliptical shape.
The life cycle of the male shield plant involves the development of leaves over several years. The leaf primordia, which appear at the growing point at the base of the rhizome, overwinter, after which they acquire a snail-like shape.
In this form they spend another year, during which their delicate tissues are very well protected from any external damage and from drying out. And only in the third year the leaves unfold and reach full development. They live only one season. Having fulfilled their vegetative function, the leaves fade by autumn.
Distribution of male shieldweed
This type of fern has colonized quite large areas and is found almost everywhere - from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, in North America and even in the Arctic. It is also widespread in Russia. Male shieldweed prefers coniferous and mixed forests, where there is high humidity and poor penetration of sunlight.
Most fern thickets were found in places with a predominance of trees such as aspen, linden, birch, as well as in spruce-fir forests. You can rarely find this plant in pine forests, because moisture is retained there very poorly. In mountainous areas, shieldweed grows on wind-protected slopes and in rock crevices.
Structural features
Like any other fern, the male shield is a perennial plant. The underdeveloped stem is located horizontally and is represented by a rhizome. Leaves, called fronds and characterized by long apical growth, in addition to photosynthesis, also perform the function of sporulation.
Sporangia located on a fern leaf can be single or group. A small green plate, called a prothallus, has rhizoids that attach to the substrate, absorbing water and minerals. Its cells contain chlorophyll, which is necessary for photosynthesis. The reproductive organs are also located on the prothallus - the female with one egg (archegonium) and the male with many sperm (antheridium).
Development cycle of male shieldweed
This type of fern is an example of a plant that has a sporophyte and a gametophyte in the form of independently existing organisms that are combined only for a short time during a certain period of the plant's life.
First, sori are formed on the leaf blades, through a cross section of which one can see many sporangia covered with an umbrella-shaped blanket called indusium. The sporangium wall, consisting of thin-walled cells, consists of a single layer, and only on its crest there is a thickened shell called a ring. In its lower part there is an area not covered by the ring - this is the so-called mouth, in which the rupture occurs when the haploid spores mature. Created high voltage, the ring unbends and sharply returns to its original position. At the same time, it works like a catapult and throws out spores. Male shieldweed is capable of spreading them over a distance of up to 5 meters.
Under certain conditions, the spores germinate and turn into a shoot. Moisture accumulating from the soil facilitates the penetration of sperm into the egg, as a result of which fertilization occurs. This is how something new appears young plant, which at first attaches to the growth and feeds from it. Only after it dies off does the plant begin to exist independently. Thus, life cycle The male shield fern includes a change in asexual and sexual generations.
Conditions for reproduction
The spores, through which reproduction occurs, usually ripen by the end of July. It is recommended to transplant ferns in the spring before leaves appear on the trees or at the end of summer. At favorable conditions self-seeding may occur. The level of humidity and the quality of the soil are very important for the development of a plant such as male shield, the reproduction of which largely depends on these factors.
This process occurs more actively in a slightly acidic environment. Conditions in the leaves of old plants, where there is insufficient light and a large number of inhibitors, are considered unfavorable. The best development of embryos occurs in rotten stumps or tree trunks.
Usage
Descriptions of recipes for preparing infusions and decoctions from the rhizome of this plant are recommended to be studied by people suffering from varicose veins veins, cramps in the leg muscles and rheumatism.
In the wild, a large number of animals use shieldweed as food. Moose especially love to eat its leaves.
It is also highly valued landscape design male shieldweed. Its structure beautiful leaves, similar to openwork plates, allows you to use it in urban landscaping, in parks, decorating fences and houses with it. Gardeners know more than thirty cultural forms of this plant.
Population conservation
Although this type of fern is quite widespread, its population is gradually declining. There are several reasons for this. One of them is massive deforestation. Male shieldweed is one of those vulnerable plants that have very sensitive roots and therefore are difficult to tolerate any human intervention in their environment.
In addition, this plant is a subject of constant collection. It is harvested as a medicinal raw material, and some tanners use shieldweed for tanning and dyeing leather.
Shield or otherwise fern is the most common plant of the Shield family. The greatest territorial distribution of this herb is found in the temperate climate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, and the diversity of shield species is observed in East Asia. Some species included in the Shield family are famous and even legendary. There is some belief that on the night of Ivan Kupala the fern blooms its flowers, but if you follow the established botanical standards, this will not happen for one simple reason - the fern does not bloom.
In nature, there are about 150 species of this medicinal representative, but the most common is considered to be the male shield or male fern. In addition to this species, there are others suitable for urban landscaping, gardening and home gardening. In addition to the male shield species, this also includes the following species:
- needle scale;
- fragrant shieldweed or St. John's wort;
- crested shieldweed;
- red rosemary;
- prostrate shieldweed.
If we highlight some features of individual species, then, for example, the combed shield can tolerate even the most severe frosts, and the odorous shield is used in perfumery and for flavoring teas.
This fern is a perennial plant. One of the characteristics of grass is the absence of a stem. But at the same time, the shield plant has a rather powerful rhizome of ascending or horizontal type covered with scales and rising from the ground. The leaves of the perennial arise directly from the rhizome and are found in two types - double-pinnate lanceolate or triple-pinnate triangular. There are exceptional species where the leaves are of uncharacteristic shape and are odd-pinnate with large, solid lobes. The sporangia of the plant are arranged either in rows or scattered randomly on the underside of the leaves.
The fern reproduces in a sporicidal manner, and the reproduction process itself can last until autumn. The medicinal properties are contained mainly in the root of the plant, so this part of the perennial is used for harvesting. After collecting the roots, they are cleaned, dried and stored for no more than 1 year in a dry room.
Description of some plant species
The comb rosemary has a height of 30-50 cm and grows in swampy forests and shrubs or tree-trunk elevations. The odorous shield plant is a low plant, about 10-30 cm, has a pleasant smell, exudes the smell of fresh hay and grows mainly on rocks and rocky outcrops. In landscape design it is used for decorative decoration slides also has applications in cooking and medical practice. Male shieldweed prefers shady coniferous-deciduous and broad-leaved forests. The name comes from the presence of rough leaves and it is this type of plant that is known in the legend about Ivan Kupala. The red rosemary plant grows in closed ground, reaches a height of up to 60 cm and is an evergreen plant.
Useful properties of fern
The medicinal properties of the root are due to the content of healing substances in it. There are alkaloids, starch, essential oils, flavonoids, tannins, fat, hydrocyanic acid, riboflavin, carotene, tocopherol and nicotinic acid.
The fern is used in cooking and is included in the food of the taiga inhabitants of the Far East, Japan and Korea. The use of this plant forms the correct skeleton, improves the nervous system, normalizes metabolism in the body and increases performance.
Use in medical and folk practice also provides its advantages. medicinal properties. Not all types of fern have medicinal effects. For example, red rosemary is suitable for decoration garden areas, but male fern or odorous shield fern has a medicinal effect. They have an antispasmodic, antibacterial, disinfectant, tonic and calming effect.
Fern cleanses the body of toxins and harmful substances and helps strengthen the immune system. If a person has skin rashes, long-term non-healing skin lesions, eczema, rheumatism, frequent headaches and chronic constipation, then use of this plant will give positive results and improve the patient’s well-being. Shield also improves and normalizes the functioning of the cardiovascular system, but at the same time it has some contraindications in some cases of heart disease.
For what diseases is it used?
Due to its amazing properties, fern restores the body after long-term illnesses and promotes its full functioning. The use of this plant is possible for the following diseases and pathological disorders:
- the presence of helminths in the body;
- rheumatism;
- chronic and acute constipation;
- ulcers and eczema;
- extensive damage to the skin;
- headache;
- angina;
- flu;
- dyspnea;
- stress and psycho-emotional disorders;
- haemorrhoids;
- poisoning;
- childhood urinary incontinence.
Folk recipes for using fern
The medicinal perennial is used not only as a raw material for pharmaceutical preparations, but is also used with great pleasure in alternative medicine. In any case, before starting therapeutic folk remedies, you should consult your doctor to obtain the necessary recommendations on the dosage and use of the plant.
- Fern decoction. To prepare, you need to take 10 grams of a medicinal plant, previously dried and well crushed. Next, the root is poured with a glass of boiling water and placed on low heat. The mixture should be boiled until the medicinal composition has evaporated by approximately half. Further use is possible: 1 teaspoon once a day with the addition of honey. You can also mix this decoction with flour and divide it into 10 doses. However, do not forget that all dosages must be strictly observed, because such a decoction is strong medicine from helminths. After medical procedures You need to conduct a course of cleansing salt microenemas. It is not recommended to use a laxative with a different composition to prevent absorption of the drug into the blood.
- For external use it is possible to use baths and rubdowns. Such therapeutic actions help with skin diseases and the presence of extensive wounds. To prepare a medicinal plant, you need to take 100 g of fresh root or 50 g of dry root and boil it in two liters of water under a tight lid for 2-3 hours. After this, the resulting solution is added to a bath filled with water at a temperature of approximately 27-32 degrees.
- For treatment, a tincture is prepared based on 25 g of fern root and a bottle of vodka. To prepare, you need to mix these two components and let it brew with constant shaking in a dark place for 2 weeks. After this, the tincture is filtered and taken 15-20 drops, previously diluted with water, 3 times a day half an hour before meals.
- To improve and normalize sleep, fresh fern leaves are added to the mattress.
- The next recipe for using fern is to use fresh leaves. They are crushed to a pasty state and mixed in equal proportions with sour milk. The resulting mixture should be applied to areas of the body with varicose veins, the treatment course is 3-4 days with some break, after which it resumes again.
Contraindications to the use of medicinal plants
Fern is a poisonous plant, so its use is only possible under the strict supervision of a doctor. It is considered poisonous due to its presence in chemical composition plants substance “raw filicin”, which is contained, for example, in the form of odorous fern. If you do not follow the dosage of the drug, acute poisoning is possible. Symptoms and consequences of poisoning are expressed in:
- headaches;
- nausea and vomiting;
- feeling of weakness;
- convulsions;
- a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
- respiratory depression;
- decreased cardiac activity;
- dizziness;
- lethal outcome.
Strict contraindications for use are pregnancy, lactation and children under 12 years of age. People who have hypersensitivity to some components of the fern, as well as those prone to allergic reactions, should be treated with caution. The use of this medicinal plant is contraindicated for persons with kidney and liver disorders, stomach and duodenal ulcers. When suffering from tuberculosis and malaria.
Ferns – Polypodiophyta
Male shieldweed - Dryopteris filix-mas(L.) Schott (1834)
Status: 3(R). A rare species, a nemoral relic of the Tertiary age.
Short description.
The plant is short-rhizomatous, large, fronds are 40–100 cm tall, close together, forming a funnel. Petioles are short, brownish-scaly. The frond plates are elongated, oblong-elliptical, doubly pinnate, lined with narrow brownish films along the rachis and midribs. Segments of the first order are elongated-lanceolate, long pointed. Segments of the second order, numbering 20–30 pairs, oblong, obtuse, serrated along the edge. The sori are two-rowed, the spathes are kidney-shaped, membranous, and non-deciduous. The spores are oval-reniform, with a warty-tubercular surface, partly comb-like on the outside.
Spreading.
Known from a number of locations confined to the black and taiga belt of the Sayan: the Kulumyssky, Kedransky, Ergaki, Borus ridges, in the lower reaches of the Mal. and Bol. Kebezh, Tanzybey, Oya, Taigish, Shadat, Tyukhtet, Amyl (Western Sayan); Kryzhina ridge and surroundings. Krasnoyarsk - r. Karaulnaya, Manskoe zaimishche, Krutaya village, r. Kashtak, r. Laletina (Eastern Sayan). Outside the region, it occurs sporadically throughout Southern Siberia and Eastern Europe. Outside Russia it is known from Western Europe, North America, Central Asia, Himalayas.
Ecology and biology.
A characteristic representative of the grass cover of black forests, it is also found in mixed pine-birch and taiga communities. Less common in subalpine meadows and large rocky screes.
Limiting factors. Relict nature of the species, narrow ecological amplitude. Destruction of habitats due to their economic use.
Security measures. It is necessary to preserve the black forest complex; annexation of the territory of the Big and Small Kebezh river basins to the Ergaki natural park. It is protected in the Stolby and Sayano-Shushensky nature reserves and the Shushensky Bor national park.
Information sources.. 1. Flora..., 1988(a); 2. Fomin..., 1930; 3. Flora..., 1983; 4. Cherepnin, 1957; 5. Stepanov, 1994; 6. Shmakov, 1999; 7. Grichuk, Monoszon, 1971; 8. Flora..., 2003. Compiled by: N.V. Stepanov. Drawing: V.S. Stepanov, N.V. Stepanov.
About the male shield plant: description of the plant.
Male fern or male shield fern is a perennial spore-bearing herbaceous medicinal plant up to 1 m high. Classified as a member of the shield family. The rhizome of the male shield plant is thick, short, with thin roots Brown. The leaves of the fern are dark green, large, twice pinnately dissected, on long petioles. On the underside of the leaf, sporulation organs are formed in 2 rows along the midrib.
Male shieldweed photo.
Spreading.
The male shield fern is widespread in the forest-steppe and forest zones of Russia. Grows in shady damp forests.
Preparation.
Medicines are prepared from the rhizomes of the male shield fern.
They are stocked in early spring or in the fall, before the leaves begin to develop. They dig it up, clear it of soil, cut it into pieces, dry it under a canopy in the air for several days, then dry it at 40°C in a dryer. The shelf life of finished raw materials is 12 months.
Male shieldweed: chemical composition.
Fern rhizomes contain phloroglucinol derivatives (phyllix and flavaspidic acids), albaspidin, aspidinol, bitterness, tannins, wax, essential oil, sugar, starch.
Application.
Medicinal infusion of rhizomes male shieldweed used externally in the form of lotions and baths for hemorrhoids, rheumatism, ulcers and purulent wounds.
Fern preparations are used to remove tapeworms.
The drug is given only after some preparation of the body. So the day before the start of treatment, the patient eats only light food with a small amount of fat. In the evening of this day, for dinner you need to drink a glass of sweet tea with crackers and a laxative (not castor oil). In the morning, the patient needs to have an enema and the male shield preparation is given in small doses. After 30-40 minutes. give a saline laxative. Breakfast can only be arranged after 2 hours. It should be light. Daily dose a single oral dose for adults is 8 g, and for children - in accordance with age.
Pharmacological properties.
The male shield plant is an effective anthelmintic.
Medications.
Decoction.
Pour 2-3 liters of water into 50 grams of fern rhizomes and boil for 2-3 hours, then filter. Use the decoction as a remedy against worms, for external use in the form of rubdowns, baths and lotions.
Pharmaceuticals.
“Male fern extract” - used as an anthelmintic.
Contraindications.
The plant is poisonous, so do not consume it without consulting a doctor. Male shield preparations are contraindicated for pregnant women, children under 2 years of age, and persons with diseases of the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system.
Think and guess!
Fern is an ancient plant, famous for its unusual properties. Who hasn’t heard the legend that if you eat a fern flower on the night of Ivan Kupala, you will gain eternal youth or immortality? This type of fern, the male shield fern, also owes its name to folk tales. Why do you think it is called that?
The shield fern belongs to the shield family along with and. However, it stands out from their background with an amazing variety of species.
Kinds
Austrian
In nature, it lives in Western Europe, the Caucasus and North America. Prefers areas with constantly moist loams.
It has long (5-9 dm), triple-pinnate, triangular-shaped leaves. Coloring light green. The fronds cover the ground with a wide carpet, hence the second name - prostrate.
Photo of the subspecies Austrian shieldweed:
Amursky
Grows on rocky soils of mountain forests. It can be found in China, Russia, and Japan. Very resistant to frost. The rhizome is elongated and thin. Triple pinnate fronds grow one at a time and die off when it gets cold. Their color is bluish-green and their shape is triangular.
Photo of the Amur shield subspecies:
Competitive
It grows in Madeira, the Azores and Western Europe. The leaves are relatively small, growing 60 cm in length. Shaped like feathers stand out with a bright green color. The tip is pointed, the entire surface is dotted with tiny spores. This view is different strong odor freshly cut grass.
Photo of the subspecies Shieldweed Competing:
Bush
It lives on the islands of Iturup, Sakhalin, Kunashir, Hokkaido, Shikoku, the Korean Peninsula and Northeast China.
The fronds are collected into a lush large rosette in the shape of a regular bowl. Leaves can grow back per meter in height, They do not dry out during the winter and die off in the spring after the young blades appear. The shape is elongated oval, the tip is pointed. The surface of the foliage is leathery, jade in color.
Photo of the subspecies Bush Shield:
Villaria
A native of Western Europe, where grows on alkaline soil. Most common in the calcareous lands of England, Wales and Lancashire.
A neat compact bush suitable for rocky gardens and alpine slide. The fronds are triangular, small size(3.5-4.5 dm), the ends are pointed. The color is nondescript green with a gray tint. The spores are very small and have a specific pleasant odor.
Photo of the subspecies Vilaria:
Golda
Lives in nature in cold and damp forests North America, mainly in its northeastern part. Has excellent winter hardiness.
The leaves can grow up to 130 cm in length and form a large, erect rosette. The shape is a wide oval, the color is malachite. The fronds are double pinnate, the rhizomes are short.
Photo of the subspecies Gold's shield:
Comb
A fairly common species, found in Europe and North America, as well as throughout Russia. Prefers wetlands with permanent high humidity soil.
Low perennial, reaching no more than 50 cm in height. The rhizome is plump, short, covered with scales. The leaves are on erect petioles and have a lanceolate shape, elongated in length. They are double pinnate, malachite in color. The spores are round, black, and are located on the back of the leaves in rows.
Photo of the subspecies Crested shield:
Odorous
Lives on Far East and Western Siberia of Russia, North America, Korea and China. In nature you can find on rocky soils and screes.
One of the most miniature species, does not exceed 30 cm in length. The rhizome is beveled, shortened. The leaves are doubly pinnate and oblong. The color is jade with a blue tint. Disputes are located throughout back surface records. It has a characteristic pleasant smell.
Photo of the subspecies Odoriferous shield plant:
Red Sorus
Grows in Japan, China and the Philippines. Heat-loving evergreen species. The fronds have the shape of a wide triangle and are distinguished by their original colors. Young leaves are colored in peach tones, which gradually change to grassy green shades. The spores are reddish.
Photo of the subspecies Red-horned shield:
Needle
The most common type in the forest area. Lives in Europe, North America.
The leaves are collected in dense bunches and reach 4-6 inches in length. The petioles, leaf shaft and rhizome are covered with brown scales. The fronds are triangular in shape and colored bright green. The sori are very small, kidney-shaped.
Photo of the subspecies Needle shield:
Extreme
Most frost resistant The species is native to North America. Grows in rocky and rocky areas.
The spores are found at the tips of the feathers, hence the name. The rosette reaches a height of 6 dm and consists of double-pinnate leaves of a bluish tint.
Photo of the subspecies Extreme Shield:
Mountain
Guarded an endangered species, very difficult to find in nature. Prefers fir forests with high humidity. A thick bunch grows from a thick short rhizome large leaves. They are bipinnate, pale green, oblong in shape.
Photo of the subspecies Mountain Shield:
Male
A very common species found in North America and Eurasia. It is found both on poor limestone and fertile lands.
The plant is large, up to 150 cm in length. The fronds gather in dense rosettes and overwinter green. They are colored emerald green and have an oblong shape with a sharp tip. Sori are located along the middle veins.
Photo of the subspecies Male shieldweed:
False male
Grows in the Black Sea region, Dagestan and the Caucasus. The plant is tall - up to 1 m. The fronds are double pinnate, pale green. Requires shelter for the winter.
Photo of the subspecies False male shield:
Subalpine
The leaves are lanceolate, narrowed or oblong, the color is grassy green. The spores are kidney-shaped, some with wings.
Photo of the subspecies Shchitovnik Podalpiyskiy:
Sikhotinsky
Very similar to a man's. Cold-resistant, grows in Japan, Russia and China. It reaches a height of 1.2 m. The fronds are oblong, bipinnate, and die off before frost.
Photo of the subspecies Sikhotinsky shield:
Related
Found in Western Europe, in deciduous forests. The leaves are collected in loose bunches and supported by long scaly petioles. They are bipinnate, lanceolate.
Photo of the subspecies Shieldweed Related:
Light
It grows quickly, forming impenetrable thickets. Lives in the Ussuri region, resistant to frost. The rhizomes branch well and grow 9-13 cm over the summer. The bushes reach a meter in height. The fronds are double pinnate, light green, triangular.
Photo of the subspecies Light shield:
Blunt
Evergreen resident of mixed and coniferous forests of Japan and the Kuril Islands. The height of the plant is average, does not exceed 7 cm. The leaves are oval, triple pinnate, bright green.
Photo of the subspecies Shchitovnik Dumb:
Prostrate
A medium-sized forest fern with lacy leaves, common in the temperate forest zone of the entire Northern Hemisphere.
Photo of the subspecies Prostrate shield plant:
Curly
It lives in Europe and North America, settling in forest areas. The leaves are erect, double pinnate, lanceolate. The color is dark green, the surface is shiny, leathery. Withstands frosts up to 30°.
Photo of the subspecies Curly Shield:
Golden
Resident of the eastern regions of North America. Can grow 1 m in height. The fronds are triangular. It is considered very decorative look thanks to the bronze tone of the leaves and the golden fluff on them.
Photo of the Golden Shield subspecies:
Marsh (telipteris)
This type of shield grows in swamps and requires constant humidity and shading. It has a dense rhizome that grows well in different directions, resulting in the formation of extensive clumps. Leaves are single, double pinnate, pale green. The shape is oblong, elongated.
Photo of the subspecies Telipteris Marsh:
Home care
Features of care after purchase
The soil should be loose, breathable, fertile, with a high humus content and good drainage.
Lighting
Shieldweed loves shaded places, they should be located away from the window or on the north side.
Temperature
Optimal is 14-19°, if it rises above 25° it will hurt. Being originally forest plant, Shield is able to withstand temperatures down to minus 25°, which makes it a suitable candidate for growing in open ground. It will overwinter without any problems, even if you forget to cover it.
Reproduction
Possible in several ways:
Disputes
Shield spores develop on the back surface of the leaves. After ripening, you need to cut them and dry them, laying them out on paper. Fill the boxes with a mixture of peat, sand and leaf soil in a ratio of 2:1:1.
Spread the spores in an even layer over the surface of the substrate and moisten with a spray bottle. Do not fill it with soil! Cover the container with polyethylene film or thin glass and keep warm and humid. Germination begins after 5-6 weeks. After which the greenhouse is removed.
Dividing the bush
The method is faster and less labor-intensive. During transplantation, separate part of the rhizome with leaves and plant in a separate pot.
Tubers
Many species grow daughter tubers or tendrils, which can be separated from the plant and buried separately to a depth of 7 to 13 cm in the ground. Water thoroughly and keep in constant moisture.
By shoots
Shield insects can throw out daughter shoots (brood buds). They appear on the leaves and begin to grow. Subsequently, they can be separated from the fronds, placed in moistened peat or moss and covered with half plastic bottle or glass jar. Rooting occurs in a couple of weeks, then the seedling is moved to normal soil.
Diseases and pests
Rotting rhizomes occurs when moisture stagnates in the soil and pan; perhaps the soil has become compacted and no longer allows moisture to pass through. Or watering occurs too often.
Pests do not like shieldweed, Only scale insects can attack. This small insects, which look like brown or beige plaques on the leaves. If there are few of them, you can collect them by hand; large populations are destroyed with insecticides - Confidor, Actellik, Tanrek, Aktara and others.
Conclusion
Growing shield plants in the house is completely simple and not burdensome. If you pay enough attention to them, decorative lush bushes They will decorate the interior for a long time and delight their owners.
