Species: Pteris semipinnata
English Name: Half leaf fern
Chinese Name: 半邊旗
Family: Pteridaceae
Description:
Perennial herbs. Rhizomes creeping in soil. Fronds are 2-pinnatipartite, upper margin of most pinnae is entire, lower one deeply divided nearly into rachis, the whole pinna similar to a half leaf (hence the name). It grows on roadsides, streamsides, wet places or in forests.
Preparation: Whole herb used. Collected all year round. Washed and used fresh or dried under the sun.
Properties: Bitter, acrid in taste, cool in nature.
Actions and indications: Clearing heat, removing toxic substance, relieving swelling, and hemorrhage. Indicated for enteritis, icteric hepatitis, conjunctivitis. External use for traumatic injury, traumatic bleeding, etc.
References:
– Department of Gardens and Green Areas, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macao Special Administrative Region, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science 2005. Flora of Macao (Volume 1). Macao, SAR: Author