Pteris cretica
Cretan brake
Pteris cretica, commonly known as the brake fern, is a resilient species widely distributed across Mediterranean and subtropical regions. Valued in traditional medicine, this fern possesses diverse bioactive properties, including anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Understanding its botanical characteristics and therapeutic potential offers significant insights into natural pharmacological applications.
- Scientific name: Pteris cretica
- Family: Pteridaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Polypodiinae. Within the order Polypodiales, it is classified under the family Pteridaceae and the genus Pteris.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Polypodiinae | WCVP |
| Order | Polypodiales | WCVP |
| Family | Pteridaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Pteris | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Pteris cretica, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In French, it is referred to as Ptéris de Crète, while in German, it is called Kretischer Saumfarn. Its name in Chinese is 欧洲凤尾蕨, and it is known in Arabic as ديشار كريتي. Furthermore, in Persian, the plant is commonly called سرخس جنگلی.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| fr | Ptéris de Crète | Wikidata |
| zh | 欧洲凤尾蕨 | Wikidata |
| de | Kretischer Saumfarn | Wikidata |
| ar | ديشار كريتي | Wikidata |
| fa | سرخس جنگلی | Wikidata |
| ja | オオバノイノモトソウ | Wikidata |
| cy | Rhedynen creta | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 大葉鳳尾蕨 | Wikidata |
| pl | Orliczka kreteńska | Wikidata |
| nb | Kantbregne | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several regions across the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be recorded within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, it is found in countries such as Hungary, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Its range also extends into Southwestern Europe, specifically reaching the island of Corse. Together, these locations highlight the diverse habitats where the species thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Corse | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Sardegna | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Sicilia | WCVP |
Medicinal Uses
Pteris cretica has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include COVID-19, hepatitis, inflammation, jaundice, virus infection.
- Total uses
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hepatitis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| jaundice | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| virus infection | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |