Polypodium cambrium

Scientific description

Taxon: Polypodium cambricum
Class: Polypodiopsida
Subclass: Polypodiidae
Order: Polypodiales
Family: Polypodiaceae
Common name: Southern polypody, common polypody

Origin:
Europe (southwest, Corsica, Pyrenees), Mediterranean regions.

Description:
Perennial rhizomatous fern forming compact tufts. Fronds persistent, leathery, bipinnate to pinnate, 20–40 cm, dark green and glossy. Sori in rows on underside of pinnules, protected by thin circular indusium. Prefers shaded, humid environments: rocky cliffs, shaded walls, cool woods. Frost resistant, adapts to calcareous or siliceous soils.

Propagation:
By spores dispersed by wind; vegetative by rhizome division.

Ecology:
Plant of shaded, humid habitats, often in mountainous and Mediterranean zones. Contributes to vegetative cover on rocks, limiting erosion.

Uses:
Mainly ornamental in shade gardens and rockeries. Former medicinal use as expectorant.

Threats:
Not threatened. Common in natural habitat but sensitive to destruction of rocky environments.

Creative writing inspired by Polypodium cambrium

Polypod and Jasmine

Once upon a time, a beautiful young girl wandered around a castle picking polypodium to save her mother's life, since this plant was known to help with liver disorders.

Suddenly, armed with her magic wand, a wicked old witch cast a spell on the beautiful young girl, transforming her into an ugly goblin. The witch took her to a cage in the basement of the castle, and said: “I'll leave you here for the rest of your life so you won't pick my polypodium again.”

She went back up to the castle's great hall and found her son Polypod sitting on a large sofa, asking her who she had just captured. She told him it was a young polypodium thief. “Why does she steal polypodium?” he asked. The mother said he didn't want to know why she was stealing polypodium. Intrigued, Polypod went to the basement to see the imprisoned girl. Polypod didn't see a girl, but an ugly little elf. He asked where the girl was, and the goblin told him that she really was, confiding that it was the witch who had transformed her.

Polypod didn't think his mother was capable of casting a spell on a young girl without knowing why. The elf told him she wanted to pick polypodium because her mother was very ill. Polypod asked if she needed help. The surprised elf said “yes” but remained wary. Polypod asked the elf to stay in the basement and went to get the keys to free her.

Polypod went back up to the living room, found his mother asleep, stole the keys, and returned to the basement. They returned to the living room to retrieve the magic wand. Polypod took it and removed the curse.

Once done, Polypod marveled at the girl's beauty and asked her name. She said her name was Jasmine. They went to the castle courtyard to pick polypodium to save the sick mother. They crossed the dark forest, reached Jasmine's house, and found her weak mother lying on the sofa. Polypod rushed into the kitchen to concoct the magic potion with polypodium as the ingredient. He gave her the potion. The mother woke up cured and thanked Polypod.

Jasmine explained everything that had happened. Then they returned to the castle to apologize for stealing the polypodium. Polypod's mother forgave her and apologized for imprisoning her without reason. Polypod found Jasmine beautiful and courageous and asked for her hand. They lived happily ever after.

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Authentic Specimen