Rainforest Plants - Samambaia

Family: PolypodiaceaeLocation: Samambaia growns in the rainforests of
Genus: PolypodiumSouth America. It has also been known to occur in
Species: decumanumdrier tropical forests in Latin America and tropical
Common names: Samambaia, calaguala,areas such as New Zealand and Central Asia.
huayhuashi-shupa, cotochupa, mirane, temakaje,Uses: Samambaia is used to treat a number of
kalawallaproblems and has been used to reduce the risk of
General Description: Samambaia is a fern native tosome problems. In the Amazon the rhizomes are
the rainforests. It was historically used for medicinalused for fever, while the fern is grated freshly to
properties. The roots in particular were used. As withmake a tea for whooping cough and kidney
most ferns, Samambaia, has an intricate creepingconditions. It has been taken in Honduras traditional
root system. It is this rhizome and the frond (ormedicine for tumors, vitilgo and rhemutoid arthritis, as
leaves) that are commonly used for medicinalwell as cough and psoriasis. Reportedly, ancient
purposes. It has been used in a number of ways,Mayan even drank tea made from this fern daily
most skin related like the treatment of psoriasis andbecause of its healing properties. This tea is still
as a sunscreen.popular in Honduras.
The genus gets its name from the word polypodiumIt is now an ingredient in a number of shampoos. In
which means "many foot." This describes the shape2001, a patent was even filed on a samambaia
of its foot-like branching roots or rhizomes. This largerhizome extract that indicated its suitability in the
family of ferns is known to have various applicationstreatment of AIDS- and cancer- related wasting
in folk medicine. The species P. leucotomos has alsosyndrome.
been widely used, especially in Brazil and Honduras.