Do you know such a plant - an ordinary millipede? Isn't that a mysterious name? The plant has such a name because of its characteristic appearance. The rhizomes of this fern have black roots extending from it on both sides. They really resemble a millipede.
The name of the fern was translated into Russian from Latin. The word polupodium was used in his writings by the philosopher Theophrastus. So he called a fern, the leaves of which look like a human foot. Well, let's try to figure out what is an ordinary millipede, where it grows, how it develops?
Biological features
The plant is common in the temperate part of the Northern Hemisphere. This is a short evergreen fern with palmate leaves up to 20 cm long. Are you curious where does the fern grow? Millipede can be found in mountainous, flat, forest areas. She loves rocky soil. The development of fern occurs very quickly, it takes root and spreads on a wide variety of surfaces. After a while, it can occupy a large area.
This fern has many varieties. Gardeners are very fond of him for the rapid reproduction of the division of rhizomes and beautiful leaves. The main thing is to identify the bushes at partial shade and hide from sunlight. Cold wind is also completely contraindicated for plants.
Epiphyte plant
Millipede fern is the only epiphyte found in central Russia. By this concept is meant plants that grow not on the ground, but on other surfaces by attaching to other species - forophytes. Thus, they do not take energy and nutrients from their owners, but use air and precipitation. Forophytes for ferns are a physical support. In this way, the millipede is saved from herbivores. This undersized fern can be seen on stones among moss, on tree trunks, high on the walls of old buildings. Reproduction occurs by spores or vegetatively.
Appearance
The millipede is an ordinary perennial rhizome herb up to 30 cm high. The roots are brown in color and have small matte scales. At the fracture, the rhizome is greenish yellow. Fern leaves are also called vayi. The leaves winter well, have a feathery-dissected shape. On their underside are soruses, spores for reproduction of a dull orange color. They ripen in June-July.
Root properties
Sometimes the millipede is popularly called viper grass, earthen or oak fern. This epiphyte loves to grow on oak trunks, which you can watch in this video. Fern root has a sweetish taste, which allows it to be used in food. It also has a peculiar aroma and is suitable for use in desserts, nougat. The centipede root is also called the "sweet root." It has a compound related to saponins, substances that are 500 times sweeter than sugar.
Use in household and medicine
Millipede is used in gardens as an ornamental plant. The tannins contained in it allow its use in folk medicine. Rhizomes are harvested in the fall, cleaned from the ground, and then dried. Shredded dry rhizomes are used to make teas and decoctions. They treat asthma, colds, add to the liver and choleretic fees. Powder roots are an excellent laxative and anthelmintic. It can be applied to disinfection wounds.
In the Netherlands, millipede roots are added to the composition of homeopathic remedies. They treat headaches, gout, bruises. They learned to extract essential oil from rhizomes. Leaves also bring benefits: they make decoctions that improve appetite. You need to be careful with a fresh plant, because it contains toxic substances.