''Pteris ensiformis'', the slender brake, silver lace fern, sword brake fern, or slender brake fern, is a plant species of the genus

Pteris ''Pteris'' (brake) is a genus of about 300 species of ferns in the subfamily Pteridoideae of the family Pteridaceae. They are native to tropical and subtropical regions, southward to New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa, north to Japan a ...

in the family

Pteridaceae Pteridaceae is a family of ferns in the order Polypodiales, including some 1150 known species in ca 45 genera (depending on taxonomic opinions), divided over five subfamilies. The family includes four groups of genera that are sometimes recogni ...

. It is found in

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an ...

and the Pacific.

Uses

Beverages

It is the most common ingredient of traditional herbal drinks in Taiwan containing different phenolic compounds :

kaempferol Kaempferol (3,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) is a natural flavonol, a type of flavonoid, found in a variety of plants and plant-derived foods including kale, beans, tea, spinach, and broccoli. Kaempferol is a yellow crystalline solid with a mel ...

3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside-7-O- �-d-apiofuranosyl-(1-2)-β-d-glucopyranoside 7-O-

caffeoyl Caffeic acid is an organic compound that is classified as a hydroxycinnamic acid. This yellow solid consists of both phenolic and acrylic functional groups. It is found in all plants because it is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of lignin, on ...

hydroxymaltol 5-Hydroxymaltol, a derivative of maltol, is a substance that can be found in ''Penicillium echinulatum''. It is also found in toasted oak and also in honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of whi ...

3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside,

hispidin Hispidin is a natural substance. It can also be synthesized. Hispidin 4-''O''-β-D-glucopyranoside can be found in '' Pteris ensiformis'' whereas hispidin derivatives, such as phellibaumins, can be found in the edible mushroom '' Inonotus xerantic ...

4-O-β-d-glucopyranoside,

3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside,

caffeic acid Caffeic acid is an organic compound that is classified as a hydroxycinnamic acid. This yellow solid consists of both phenolic and acrylic functional groups. It is found in all plants because it is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of lignin, o ...

, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid. This plant is resistant to

arsenic Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As and atomic number 33. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in combination with sulfur and metals, but also as a pure elemental crystal. Arsenic is a metalloid. It has various allotropes, bu ...

-induced oxidative stress.

Benzoyl-beta-D-glucoside Benzoyl-''beta''--glucoside is a benzoyl In organic chemistry, benzoyl (, ) is the functional group with the formula C6H5CO-. It can be viewed as benzaldehyde missing one hydrogen. The term "benzoyl" should not be confused with benzyl, whi ...

, as well as pterosin

sesquiterpene Sesquiterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of three isoprene units and often have the molecular formula C15H24. Like monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes may be cyclic or contain rings, including many unique combinations. Biochemical modifica ...

s can be found in ''P. ensiformis''.

Cultivation

''Pteris ensiformis'' is cultivated as an

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that ...

for tropical and

subtropical climate The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical and climate zones to the north and south of the tropics. Geographically part of the temperate zones of both hemispheres, they cover the middle latitudes from to approximately 35° north a ...

gardens, and as a house plant. ;Cultivars * ''Pteris ensiformis'' 'Victoriae', the Victoria fern * ''Pteris ensiformis'' 'Evergemiensis'

References

ensiformis Ferns of Asia Flora of Asia Flora of Australia Plants described in 1768 Edible plants Garden plants of Asia Taxa named by Nicolaas Laurens Burman {{Pteridaceae-stub

Uses

Beverages

Cultivation

See also

References