Microsorum scolopendria

wart fern

The "warts" on fertile fronds of this fern are actually clusters of spores called sori sunken into the leaf surface. Fronds of the wart fern are used in Hawaii to decorate hula altars and dancers. The leaves can be crushed for a fragrant odor that has been used in Hawaii to make scented cloth.

Throughout tropical Pacific regions, wart fern is used in traditional medicine. In Africa, ground up leaves are mixed with earth from a wasp’s nest and applied as a paste for abscesses. Crushed leaves are used as wound dressing and a tea is made from the leaves to treat insanity. The plant has been studied for its ecdysteroids, which could be responsible for some of the healing properties attributed to the plant.

Young leaves are spread upon beds in Southeast Asia to keep bed bugs away. I’m certainly glad that I don’t have to worry much about those critters but it’s something good to know just in case!

This plant does very well in the shade with regular rainfall or watering. Watch out, though, because it spreads quickly!