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Polypodium glycyrrhiza

D.C. Eat.

Licorice Fern

G5Secure Found in 124 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.142178
Element CodePPPOL020F0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumFilicinophyta
ClassFilicopsida
OrderFilicales
FamilyPolypodiaceae
GenusPolypodium
Other Common Names
licorice fern (EN) Polypode réglisse (FR)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
Sigel et al. (2014) and Assis et al. (2016) confirm the monophyly and circumscribe the genus Polypodium. The generic placement of this taxon is in accordance with the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group I (2016).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-05-16
Change Date1985-09-06
Range Extent Comments
Chiefly near the coast (but not really maritime), extending inland to the w. base of the Cascade Mtns., and in the Columbia R. Gorge; Kamtchatka and the Aluetian Is. to s. Alaska, s. to c. California, and disjunct in northern Idaho.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Long-creeping, licorice-flavored rhizome; stipes 2-18(27) cm long; the expanded portion of the frond ovate-lanceoloate to nearly oblong, 6(8)-23(35) cm long, 2.5-7(12) cm wide, deeply pinnatifid, truncate at the base, acuminate to acute at the apex; sori are naked (no indusium); terrestrail on shaded banks, epiphytic on tree trunks, or occasionally epipetric.

Diagnostic Characteristics

Rhizome slender to moderately stout with intensely sweet licorice flavor.

Habitat

Occurs in maritime to submaritime cool mesothermal climates on very shallow, calcium rich soils, on tree trunks, mossy logs, rocks, and moist banks.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - Hardwood
Other Nations (2)
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
UtahSHYes
AlaskaSNRYes
WashingtonSNRYes
ArizonaS1Yes
IdahoS1Yes
OregonSNRYes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS5Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (124)
Alaska (56)
AreaForestAcres
Bay of PillarsTongass National Forest27,492
Behm IslandsTongass National Forest4,777
Brabazon AdditionTongass National Forest498,819
Central WrangellTongass National Forest13,397
ChichagofTongass National Forest555,858
Chilkat-West Lynn CanalTongass National Forest199,772
Chugach-12Chugach National Forest8,116
Chugach-13Chugach National Forest13,337
ClevelandTongass National Forest189,447
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Dall IslandTongass National Forest105,780
Douglas IslandTongass National Forest28,065
DukeTongass National Forest45,091
East WrangellTongass National Forest7,630
El CapitanTongass National Forest26,693
EudoraTongass National Forest195,022
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
Five MileTongass National Forest19,459
Freshwater BayTongass National Forest44,933
Game CreekTongass National Forest54,469
GravinaTongass National Forest37,381
Juneau UrbanTongass National Forest101,581
Juneau-Skagway IcefieldTongass National Forest1,187,268
KartaTongass National Forest52,117
KekuTongass National Forest10,869
KosciuskoTongass National Forest64,134
LindenbergTongass National Forest25,855
MadanTongass National Forest68,553
Mansfield PeninsulaTongass National Forest54,991
Middle KruzofTongass National Forest14,724
Nellie JuanChugach National Forest713,697
North BaranofTongass National Forest314,089
North KruzofTongass National Forest33,146
North KupreanofTongass National Forest114,660
North RevillaTongass National Forest215,430
North WrangellTongass National Forest8,091
Point AugustaTongass National Forest15,482
Port AlexanderTongass National Forest120,681
Prince William Sound Is.Chugach National Forest118,698
RedoubtTongass National Forest68,347
RevillaTongass National Forest29,298
RhineTongass National Forest23,010
Rocky PassTongass National Forest78,163
Salmon BayTongass National Forest22,793
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
Sitka SoundTongass National Forest13,459
Sitka UrbanTongass National Forest112,003
South KruzofTongass National Forest55,193
South RevillaTongass National Forest52,105
Taku-SnettishamTongass National Forest664,928
Tenakee RidgeTongass National Forest20,527
Thorne RiverTongass National Forest72,983
Upper SitukTongass National Forest16,789
West WrangellTongass National Forest10,291
Windham-Port HoughtonTongass National Forest161,952
Yakutat ForelandsTongass National Forest323,648
California (10)
AreaForestAcres
Devils RockShasta-Trinity National Forest16,209
EagleShasta-Trinity National Forest6,553
KangarooKlamath National Forest40,617
KellySix Rivers National Forest5,195
Monkey CreekSix Rivers National Forest9,017
North Fork SmithSix Rivers National Forest37,898
Orleans Mtn. BSix Rivers National Forest17,183
PortugueseKlamath National Forest18,915
Siskiyou BSix Rivers National Forest18,871
South ForkShasta-Trinity National Forest16,786
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Oregon (26)
AreaForestAcres
Bull Of The WoodsMt. Hood National Forest8,843
Calf - Copeland CreekUmpqua National Forest15,696
Castle Rock AppendageUmpqua National Forest4,649
Cougar BluffUmpqua National Forest5,574
Drift CreekSiuslaw National Forest6,333
EagleMt. Hood National Forest16,841
FairviewUmpqua National Forest7,417
Gordon MeadowsWillamette National Forest9,463
Hardesty MountainWillamette National Forest3,754
Hardesty MountainUmpqua National Forest2,597
Hebo 1aSiuslaw National Forest13,930
LarchMt. Hood National Forest12,961
Limpy RockUmpqua National Forest6,782
Menagerie (rooster Rock)Willamette National Forest374
Moose LakeWillamette National Forest5,013
Mt. HagenWillamette National Forest6,406
Mt. Hood AdditionsMt. Hood National Forest13,061
North KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests91,560
Opal CreekWillamette National Forest5,417
Salmon - HuckleberryMt. Hood National Forest17,570
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
TahkenitchSiuslaw National Forest5,799
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
Umpqua SpitSiuslaw National Forest2,090
Williams CreekUmpqua National Forest5,844
WoahinkSiuslaw National Forest5,309
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Washington (30)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekGifford Pinchot National Forest7,980
Big Lava BedGifford Pinchot National Forest19,043
Boulder RiverMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest32,563
Dark DivideGifford Pinchot National Forest52,483
Dixon MountainGifford Pinchot National Forest6,339
Eagle RockMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest34,064
Glacier Peak BMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest19,328
Glacier Peak IMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest15,175
Glacier Peak JMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest26,482
Glacier Peak KMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest47,269
Glacier Peak LMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest14,084
Green MountainOlympic National Forest4,617
Jefferson RidgeOlympic National Forest6,512
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
LightningOlympic National Forest7,179
Madison CreekOlympic National Forest1,223
McdonaldOlympic National Forest501
Mt. Baker MaMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest24,847
Mt. Baker Noisy - DiobsudMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest56,039
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
Mt. Baker WestMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest25,390
Mt. BaldyOlympic National Forest3,557
Norse PeakWenatchee National Forest10,169
PompeyGifford Pinchot National Forest23,985
QuilceneOlympic National Forest18,656
Silver StarGifford Pinchot National Forest7,779
SiouxonGifford Pinchot National Forest12,773
South QuinaultOlympic National Forest11,081
Thorp Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest22,717
Upper SkokomishOlympic National Forest9,311
References (14)
  1. Assis, F.C., Almeida, T.E., Russell, S.J., Schneider, H., and A. Salino. 2016. Molecular phylogeny and recircumscription of the fern genus <i>Pecluma</i> (Polypodiaceae–Polypodiopsida). Phytotaxa 247(4): 235-246.
  2. Berch, S. M., S. Gamiet, and E. Deom. 1988. Mycorrhizal status of some plants of southwestern British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Botany 66(10): 1924-1928.
  3. Caicco, S. L. 1987. National Natural Landmark evaluation. Aquarius proposed Research Natural Area (Idaho). Prepared for U. S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Seattle, WA. 24 pp. plus appendices.
  4. Chambers, K. L. 1973. Floristic relationships of Onion Peak with Saddle Mountain, Clatsop County, Oregon. Madrono 22(3): 105-114.
  5. Graf, P. E. 1974. Successional stages of red alder in Bonner County, Idaho. Unpublished thesis, University of Idaho, Moscow. 146 pp.
  6. Haufler, C. H., M. D. Windham, F. A. Lang, and S. A. Whitmore. 1990. Polypodiaceae. <i>Polypodium</i>. Unpublished manuscript for the Flora of North America Project. 17 pp.
  7. Hitchcock, C.L., A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J.W. Thompson. 1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. Part 1: Vascular cryptogams, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Univ. Washington Press, Seattle. 914 pp.
  8. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  9. Kim, J., J. M. Pezzuto, D. D. Soejarto, F. A. Lang, and A. D. Kinghorn. 1988. Polypodoside A, an intensley sweet constituent of the rhizomes of Polypodium glycyrrhiza. Journal of Natural Products 51(6): 1166-172.
  10. Klinka, K., V.J. Krajina, A. Ceska, and A.M. Scagel. 1989. Indicator Plants of Coastal British Columbia. UBC Press, Vancouver. 288 pp.
  11. Lang, F. A. 1969. A new name for a species of <i>Polypodium </i>from northwestern North America. Madrono 20: 53-60.
  12. Lorain, C. C. 1991b. Action plan for sensitive plant species on the Clearwater National Forest. Unpublished report. 63 pp. plus appendices.
  13. Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group I. 2016. A Community-Derived Classification for Extant Lycophytes and Ferns. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 54(6): 563–603.
  14. Sigel, E.M., Windham, M.D., Haufler, C.H.. and K.M. Pryer. 2014. Phylogeny, divergence time estimates, and phylogeography of the diploid species of the <i>Polypodium vulgare</i> complex (Polypodiaceae). Systematic Botany 39(4): 1042-1055.