Licorice Fern

What it looks like

Licorice fern is an evergreen fern that grows along the ground or on mossy logs and trees. It grows to 70 cm tall. The fronds (fern leaves) are made up of a stiff central vein with several green, bladelike leaflets extending from it. The undersides of these leaflets produce reddish-brown circular sori, or spore-bearing regions. The fern got its English name from its licorice-flavoured rhizomes. the fern is common to the coastline of BC.

What it was used for

Licorice fern was used mainly for medicine. The juice from the rhizomes was used for treating people who vomited blood as well as in some diarrhea cures. Raw rhizomes were also held in the mouth by hunters or berry pickers to stave off hunger and thirst. These rhizomes were sometimes eaten at winter feasts, but only when no other food was available.