Licorice-Fern

Licorice fern (Polypodium glycyrrhiza) is a summer deciduous fern native to western North America, primarily in a narrow strip in southern Alaska, southwesternYukon Territroy, western British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California. The rhizome (underground stem) of licorice fern contains a substance called osladin, which is 3000 times sweeter than sugar and tastes like licorice. The rhizomes were chewed by the Squamish, Sechelt, Comox, Nuxalk, Haida and Kwakwaka’wakw. Occasionally, the rhizomes were dried, steamed, scorched or eaten raw. The rhizomes were an important medicine for colds and sore throats. They were also mixed with bitter medicines as a sweetener. It thrives in a humid climate, prevailing in areas with cool and moist summers and warm and wet winters. can often be found growing on the trunks and branches of winter deciduous trees, particularly bigleaf maple, but is also often found on rocks, logs, and wet, mossy humus.
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