Athyrium yokoscense

Athyrium yokoscense
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pteridophyta
Class:	Polypodiopsida/Pteridopsida (disputed)
Order:	Polypodiales
Family:	Athyriaceae
Genus:	Athyrium
Species:	A. yokoscense
Binomial name
Athyrium yokoscense (Fr. & Sav.) C. Ch.

Athyrium yokoscense, commonly known as Asian common ladyfern in English and as Hebino-negoza in Japanese, is a species of fern in the family Athyriaceae. These tough plants live primarily in and around mine sites and thrive in soils contaminated with high concentrations of heavy metals, such as zinc, cadmium, lead, and copper.A. yokoscense is indigenous to Japan, Korea, eastern Siberia and northeastern China and has been known for centuries to tolerate phytotoxic mining sites. The predominance and concentration of this fern species at a particular region was used to identify potential mining sites. The primary potential of A. yokoscense is in its phytoremediative ability to accumulate toxic metals from soils contaminated with heavy metals, so it may have some long-term commercial importance. No medicinal or culinary values of this fern species have been studied or confirmed.

A. yokoscense is similar to other species in the genus, Athyrium, and family, Athyriaceae. The plant typically grows to more than 0.2 metres (7.9 in) high and can tolerate high levels of heavy metals (arsenic, lead, cadmium, zinc, copper), which under many circumstances would kill other plants. This fern leaves resemble typical fern leaves. Not many publications and research have been made on the reproductive cycle of this fern species, but it is similar to the other ferns in the same genus. According to mygarden.net.au, these ferns "grow in heavy clay soils and prefer a moist sheltered site with moderately high atmosphere". Some ferns have been reported to contain carcinogens and others contain thiaminase, which robs the body of its vitamin B. This fern is generally not edible.

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Wikipedia