Lygodium
Encyclopedia
Lygodium is a genus of about 40 species of fern
s, native to tropical regions across the world, with a few temperate species in eastern Asia
and eastern North America
. It is the sole genus in the family Lygodiaceae, though included in the family Schizaeaceae
by some botanists.
They are unusual in that the rachis, or midrib, of the frond
is thin, flexible, and long, the frond unrolling
with indeterminate growth and the rachis twining around supports, so that each frond forms a distinct vine
. The fronds may be from 3-12 m long, depending on the species.
Some Lygodium species are now considered a very problematic invasive weeds in the southeastern United States. Populations of Lygodium have increased more than 12-fold over the past decade--as can be seen on IFAS
's SRFer Mapserver.
Japanese climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum
) was added to the Florida Noxious Weed List in 1999. It is also a major problem in pine plantations, causing contamination and harvesting problems for the pine straw industry. Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum
) infests cypress swamps and other hydric sites, forming a monoculture. This massive infestation displaces all native flora and fauna, completely changing the ecosystem of the area.
Plants in this genus have basal chromosome counts of n=28, 29, 30.
testosterone 5α-reductase
inhibitory activity and in vivo
anti-androgenic activity using growth of flank organ in castrated Syrian hamsters and hair regrowth after shaving in testosterone-treated C57Black/6CrSlc mice. From the lipophilic constituents of the spores, the common fatty acid
s oleic acid
, linoleic acid
and palmitic acid
were identified as the main active principles inhibiting testosterone 5α-reductase.
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s, native to tropical regions across the world, with a few temperate species in eastern Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and eastern North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. It is the sole genus in the family Lygodiaceae, though included in the family Schizaeaceae
Schizaeaceae
Schizaeaceae is a family of 35 to 40 species of small ferns, chiefly tropical.Genera historically treated as belonging to this family include Anemia, Lygodium, and Mohria...
by some botanists.
They are unusual in that the rachis, or midrib, of the frond
Frond
The term frond refers to a large, divided leaf. In both common usage and botanical nomenclature, the leaves of ferns are referred to as fronds and some botanists restrict the term to this group...
is thin, flexible, and long, the frond unrolling
Vernation
Vernation is the formation of new leaves or fronds. In plant anatomy, it is the arrangement of leaves in a bud....
with indeterminate growth and the rachis twining around supports, so that each frond forms a distinct vine
Vine
A vine in the narrowest sense is the grapevine , but more generally it can refer to any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent, that is to say climbing, stems or runners...
. The fronds may be from 3-12 m long, depending on the species.
Some Lygodium species are now considered a very problematic invasive weeds in the southeastern United States. Populations of Lygodium have increased more than 12-fold over the past decade--as can be seen on IFAS
IFAS
IFAS can stand for:* Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences* Irish Federation of Astronomical Societies* Integrated Fixed Film Activated Sludge System* Islamic Financial Accounting Standards* Independent Financial Advisers...
's SRFer Mapserver.
Japanese climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum
Lygodium japonicum
Lygodium japonicum is a species of fern that is known by the common name Japanese climbing fern. It is native to eastern Asia, including Japan, Korea, southeastern Asia, and India, and eastern Australia...
) was added to the Florida Noxious Weed List in 1999. It is also a major problem in pine plantations, causing contamination and harvesting problems for the pine straw industry. Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum
Lygodium microphyllum
Lygodium microphyllum is a climbing fern originating in tropical Africa, South East Asia, Melanesia and Australia. It is an invasive weed in the US States of Florida and Alabama where it invades open forest and wetland areas...
) infests cypress swamps and other hydric sites, forming a monoculture. This massive infestation displaces all native flora and fauna, completely changing the ecosystem of the area.
Plants in this genus have basal chromosome counts of n=28, 29, 30.
Extracts
The aqueous ethanol extract of spores of Lygodium japonicum showed in vitroIn vitro
In vitro refers to studies in experimental biology that are conducted using components of an organism that have been isolated from their usual biological context in order to permit a more detailed or more convenient analysis than can be done with whole organisms. Colloquially, these experiments...
testosterone 5α-reductase
5-alpha reductase
5α-reductases, also known as 3-oxo-5α-steroid 4-dehydrogenases, are enzymes involved in steroid metabolism. They participate in 3 metabolic pathways: bile acid biosynthesis, androgen and estrogen metabolism, and prostate cancer....
inhibitory activity and in vivo
In vivo
In vivo is experimentation using a whole, living organism as opposed to a partial or dead organism, or an in vitro controlled environment. Animal testing and clinical trials are two forms of in vivo research...
anti-androgenic activity using growth of flank organ in castrated Syrian hamsters and hair regrowth after shaving in testosterone-treated C57Black/6CrSlc mice. From the lipophilic constituents of the spores, the common fatty acid
Fatty acid
In chemistry, especially biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with a long unbranched aliphatic tail , which is either saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fatty acids have a chain of an even number of carbon atoms, from 4 to 28. Fatty acids are usually derived from...
s oleic acid
Oleic acid
Oleic acid is a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid found in various animal and vegetable fats. It has the formula CH37CH=CH7COOH. It is an odorless, colourless oil, although commercial samples may be yellowish. The trans isomer of oleic acid is called elaidic acid...
, linoleic acid
Linoleic acid
Linoleic acid is an unsaturated n-6 fatty acid. It is a colorless liquid at room temperature. In physiological literature, it has a lipid number of 18:2...
and palmitic acid
Palmitic acid
Palmitic acid, or hexadecanoic acid in IUPAC nomenclature, is one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in animals and plants. Its molecular formula is CH314CO2H. As its name indicates, it is a major component of the oil from palm trees . Palmitate is a term for the salts and esters of...
were identified as the main active principles inhibiting testosterone 5α-reductase.
Selected species
- Lygodium articulatum – Tropical southeast Asia.
- Lygodium circinatum – Tropical Asia and Australasia.
- Lygodium conforme – China.
- Lygodium cubense – Cuba, Hispaniola.
- Lygodium digitatum – China.
- Lygodium flexuosum – Southern China south to northern Australasia.
- Lygodium japonicumLygodium japonicumLygodium japonicum is a species of fern that is known by the common name Japanese climbing fern. It is native to eastern Asia, including Japan, Korea, southeastern Asia, and India, and eastern Australia...
– Japanese climbing fern. Eastern Asia south to northern Australia. - Lygodium microphyllumLygodium microphyllumLygodium microphyllum is a climbing fern originating in tropical Africa, South East Asia, Melanesia and Australia. It is an invasive weed in the US States of Florida and Alabama where it invades open forest and wetland areas...
(Cav.) R. Br. – Old World climbing fern. Africa, south Asia and Australia. - Lygodium microstachyum – China.
- Lygodium palmatumLygodium palmatumLygodium palmatum is the only species of its genus native to North America. Unlike most species in the genus, this one, called the climbing fern or Hartford fern Lygodium palmatum is the only species of its genus native to North America. Unlike most species in the genus, this one, called the...
(Bernh.) SwartzOlof SwartzOlof Peter Swartz was a Swedish botanist and taxonomist. He is best known for his taxonomic work and studies into pteridophytes...
– American climbing fern. Eastern United States (rare, confined to acid soils). - Lygodium polystachyum – China.
- Lygodium reticulatum – Australia, Polynesia.
- Lygodium salicifolium – Southern China south to northern Australasia.
- Lygodium subareolatum – China.
- Lygodium trifurcatum – Tropical southeast Asia south to northern Australasia.
- Lygodium volubile – Northern South America, Central America, Caribbean.
- Lygodium versteeghii – Tropical southeast Asia south to northern Australasia.
- Lygodium yunnanense – Southern China.