Western Sword Fern

Name: Western Sword Fern

Latin Name: Polystichum munitum

Role in local ecosystem: Western Sword Ferns are a host for some butterfly species and can be a cover for some smaller wildlife

Medicinal uses: The consumption of the ferns rhizomes can be used to cure diarrhea, young fronds chewed and swallowed for sore throats and an infusion of boiled rhizome used on sores and to ease pain.

Biology Facts: Kingdom Plantae, Phylum Tracheophyta, Class Polypodiopsida. Ferns are vascular plant and are seedless.