Polypodium vulgare

Polypodium vulgare
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Suborder: Polypodiineae
Family: Polypodiaceae
Genus: Polypodium
Species:
P. vulgare
Binomial name
Polypodium vulgare
Frond with round dark sori on the underside
Sporangium showing the many thick-walled ('indurated') cells forming the backbone ('annulus') with 1 basal cell
Frequently found on damp tree trunks
Colony
Sycamore covered entirely with the fern

Polypodium vulgare, the common polypody, is an evergreen fern of the family Polypodiaceae. The name is derived from Greek poly- ("many") and pous, podos ("foot"). Polypody has traditional uses in cooking for its aroma and sweet taste, and in herbal medicine as a purgative and vermifuge.