Oakleaf fern

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Oakleaf fern

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Drynaria brancifolia
• Drynaria morbillosa
• Drynariopsis morbillosa
• Phymatodes brancifolia
• Phymatodes morbillosa
• Phymatodes quercifolia
• Phymatodes sylvatica
• Polypodium brancifolium
• Polypodium morbillosum
• Polypodium quercifolium
• Polypodium quercioides
• Polypodium schkuhrii
• Polypodium siifolium
• Polypodium sylvaticum
• Aglaomorpha quercifolia

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Polypodiinae and the order Polypodiales, it is further categorized into the family Polypodiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is established within the genus Drynaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning across several distinct regions. In East Asia, its presence is specifically noted within the Hainan province of China. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found across the vast territories of India and Bangladesh. Furthermore, the species is distributed throughout the specialized ecological zones of Assam. Finally, it also populates the high-altitude landscapes of the East Himalaya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Drynaria quercifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. Its physiological cycle is marked by a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage as part of its natural developmental rhythm.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Drynaria quercifolia is characterized by a growth form classified as a non-woody herb or forb. It functions as an obligatory holoepiphyte, meaning it grows upon other plants for support, yet remains an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant typically exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, though it can be categorized as self-supporting in its structural development. In terms of stature, it is a relatively small plant with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 1 m, with a mean height of approximately 1 m. While it occupies various ecological niches, its primary habitat is terrestrial rather than aquatic.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

holoepiphyte

Epiphyte :

obligatory

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Drynaria quercifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying light environments. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the enzyme Rubisco to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into the Calvin cycle, a mechanism typical of many ferns that thrive in shaded or forest understory habitats. Furthermore, this species is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds present in the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Drynaria quercifolia has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome.

Rhizome

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Drynaria quercifolia has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include naringin, BETA-SITOSTEROL, DODECANOIC ACID, Decanoic acid, Epifriedelinol.

naringin

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Fitoterapia

DODECANOIC ACID

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Decanoic acid

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Epifriedelinol

1. Fitoterapia

Eriocitrin

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Friedelin

1. Fitoterapia

beta-Amyrin

1. Fitoterapia

hydrogen peroxide

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

indole

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Activities

Drynaria quercifolia has 6 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Abortifacient, Antiarthritic, Antibacterial, Hepatoprotective.

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Microbial pathogenesis

Abortifacient

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiarthritic

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Antibacterial

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Thrombolytic

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Conditions

Drynaria quercifolia has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Neisseria gonorrhoeae, arthritis, birth control, gastrointestinal diseases, liver fibrosis.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

1. Sexually transmitted diseases

Arthritis

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Birth control

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gastrointestinal diseases

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Liver fibrosis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rheumatism

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Preparations

Drynaria quercifolia has 4 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include dried rhizome, extracts, methanol extract, methanolic extracts (MEF).

Dried rhizome

1. Fitoterapia

Extracts

1. Sexually transmitted diseases

Methanol extract

1. Fitoterapia

Methanolic extracts (mef)

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine