Polypodium vulgare L.

Polypodium vulgare, the common polypody, is an evergreen fern of the family Polypodiaceae. The name is derived from Greek poly- ("many") and pous, podos ("foot"). Polypody has traditional uses in cooking for its aroma and sweet taste, and in herbal medicine as a purgative and vermifuge. This species is expansive and highly adapted to many environments.

Source: Wikipedia

Synonyms 34

Ctenopteris vulgaris, Polypodium boreale, Polypodium commune, Polypodium officinale, Polypodium pinnatifidum, Polypodium vulgare subsp. issaevii, Polypodium vulgare subsp. rotundatum, Polypodium vulgare subsp. zuvandicum, Polypodium vulgare var. acutum, Polypodium vulgare var. angustum, Polypodium vulgare var. attenuatum, Polypodium vulgare var. auritum, Polypodium vulgare var. bifidum, Polypodium vulgare var. compositum, Polypodium vulgare var. obtusum, Polypodium vulgare var. phaegopteroides, Polypodium vulgare var. pinnatifidum, Polypodium vulgare var. platylobum, Polypodium vulgare var. rotundatum, Polypodium vulgare var. simplex, Polypodium vulgare var. sinuatum, Polypodium vulgare var. zuvandicum, Polypodium vulgare subvar. alatum, Polypodium vulgare subvar. sinuosum, Polypodium vulgare f. abbreviatum, Polypodium vulgare f. alatum, Polypodium vulgare f. attenuatum, Polypodium vulgare f. auriculatum, Polypodium vulgare f. crenatum, Polypodium vulgare f. cuspidatum, Polypodium vulgare f. integrum, Polypodium vulgare f. oppositum, Polypodium vulgare f. platylobum, Polypodium vulgare f. sinuosum

482,631 GBIF occurrences
26,180 iNaturalist observations

Conservation status code

Conservation: status label

Least Concern

Conservation: population trend

Stable

Conservation: year assessed

2026

IUCN Red List page

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/203397/209215487

Habitats

IUCN: population narrative

This species is common and widespread throughout its distribution, although in Madeira it seems to be rare. The overall population trend is stable.

IUCN: habitat narrative

Common Polypody prefers well-drained, predominantly acidic substrates such as grits, granites, gneiss and sandstones, often in small fissures. It also grows on the north side of sand dunes (Van der Meijden 2005; M. Christenhusz pers. obs. 2015). It is often found on rocky outcrops, on boulders, shaded stony slopes or in sandy soil in broadleaf or coniferous woods. It is tolerant of exposure and can be found on montane scree or on large granite boulders. In the west of its range, in areas with higher rainfall and more humid air, this fern can grow epiphytically on tree trunks, mostly on oak (Quercus) and other deciduous trees (Komarov 1968, Castroviejo et al. 1986, Page 1997, BSBI/BRC 2024).

IUCN: threats narrative

There are no major significant or widespread threats to this species.

IUCN: conservation narrative

It is listed on the following national Red Lists:

Belarus: Near Threatened (Ermakova 2005).
Belgium: Least Concern (Van Landuyt et al. 2006).
Bulgaria: found in national parks, rare, with few subpopulations occupying small areas, but of no economic importance (Kathe 2003, Evstatieva and Hardalova 2004).
Estonia: Least Concern (eElurikkus 2024).
Finland: Least Concern (Rassi et al. 2010).
Germany: Least Concern (Ludwig and Schnittler 1996).
Luxembourg: Least Concern (Colling 2005).
Norway: Least Concern (Artsdatabanken 2024).
Switzerland: Least Concern (Moser et al. 2002).
United Kingdom: Least Concern (Stroh et al. 2025).

The species is represented by four germplasm accessions held at European institutions (EURISCO 2024) and is included in the living collection of at least 133 botanical gardens (BGCI 2024). It occurs in many protected areas, including Natura 2000 sites (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2024, GBIF.org 2024).

IUCN: rationale

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)This fern species is classified as Least Concern for both Europe and the EU27 Member States due to its widespread distribution, stable population, and absence of major threats.

Related species

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