Thanks for yr. help in identification of the fern sp. On Wed, Sep 7, 2011 at 4:49 PM, Prabhu kumar KM <[email protected]>wrote:
> > It is > *Hemionitis arifolia (Burn. f.) T. Moore * > > Syn: > *Asplenium arifolium, * > *Gymnogramma arifolia, * > *Gymnogramma sagittata, * > *Hemionitis cordata, > Hemionitis cordifolia, * > *Hemionitis sagittata, * > *Hemionitis toxotis* > > Identified to science in 1859, *Hemionitis arifolia* is an attractive and > unusual dwarf fern primarily from Laos, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and possibly > China, Taiwan and other nations in tropical Southeast Asia. The fern is > both an epiphyte (ep-a-FIT) and grows on trees as well as a terrestrial > plant. > > In Asian folklore *Hermionitis arifolia* is used to treat diabetes The > fern has been medically evaluated for its hypoglycemic and anti-diabetic > properties in rats. Some of the extracts found in *Hemionitis arifolia *were > actually found to lower the levels of blood glucose in sugar fed rats but > only a small amount of the hypoglycemic activity in overnight > fasted non-diabetic rats was seen. It is unknown if there is a possible > human use for the fern's extracts. > > In our magnified photograph you can observe this attractive fern has dark > green cordate (heart shaped) fronds which grow on blackish stems with fronds > that reach 5 to 7.5cm (2" to 3") in length. The small dainty shade loving > fern grows well in low light with high humidity. *Hemionitis arifolia*also > grows well as a terrarium plant or in a very shady area in an > atrium. The leathery heart-shaped fronds feature tall fertile frond leaves > that spread above the fern's foliage. *Hemionitis arifolia* is hardy > in Zone 10 or higher and It can be grown in the lower portions of Florida > outdoors. Otherwise it must be grown indoors in a terrarium or in a > greenhouse. The fern reaches 15 to 20cm (6" to 8") in height. This plant > has numerous synonyms (same plant, other names) so you may find it available > under a variety of names. > > -- > *Prabhu Kumar K M* > Scientist > Plant Systematics & Genetic Resources Division > Centre for Medicinal Plant Research (CMPR) > & 'CMPR' Herbarium > Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala > Kottakkal, Malappuram > *E-mail: [email protected]* > > -- B. Rathinasabapathy Project Co-ordinator Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park 1388, Avinashi Road Peelamedu Coimbatore-641004 [image: stock vector : tree] <http://mail.google.com/subscribe.mhtml>
