Herb's Introduction Filicium decipiens, commonly known as the fern tree or Japanese fern tree, is a tropical evergreen tree native to Africa, Sri Lanka, and India. While it's sometimes listed with various traditional names in different Indian languages, it's not widely recognized as a medicinal or culinary herb. Its primary use is for ornamental purposes, where it is valued for its elegant, arching branches and glossy, fern-like leaves that provide a graceful, umbrella-like canopy. The tree is a member of the Sapindaceae family, which also includes familiar plants like lychee and soapberry.
Name in Different Countries and Terminology The most common name for this tree is the fern tree. It is also sometimes referred to as the Japanese fern tree due to its widespread use in landscaping in Japan and other parts of Asia. In South India, where it is native, it has various local names:
Tamil: Ningal, Nirkongu, Athadali, Iruvillipalai
Malayalam: Valmuriccha, Niroli, Sanimaram, Kattunelli
Telugu: Patta kunkudu
Kannada: Kaadu hoovarasi, Neeroli
The synonyms provided, Valmuriccha and Sanimaram, are its common Malayalam names.
Availability and External Look
Filicium decipiens is widely available as an ornamental tree in nurseries, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. It's often used in landscaping for streets, parks, and gardens. The tree can grow up to 40 feet tall, though it typically reaches around 25 to 30 feet in cultivation.
Its most distinguishing feature is its leaves. They are pinnately compound, meaning they are arranged in a feather-like pattern. Each leaf can be up to 10 inches long and is divided into many small, glossy, deep green leaflets. The leaflets themselves are arranged in a unique way—they are held close to the main stem, giving the leaf a rope-like or braided appearance. The tree produces small, inconspicuous white flowers and small, purple, olive-like fruits.
Healing Properties and Advantages
Based on available scientific and ethnobotanical literature, there is no substantial evidence to suggest that Filicium decipiens possesses significant healing properties. Unlike many traditional medicinal plants, its use in herbal medicine is not well-documented.
The plant's main advantages are purely aesthetic and environmental:
Ornamental Value: Its unique foliage and graceful form make it an excellent shade tree and a beautiful addition to any landscape.
Low Maintenance: It is a hardy tree that is relatively drought-tolerant and pest-resistant once established.
Shade Provider: Its dense canopy provides excellent shade, which is valuable in hot climates.
Uses and Using Way
The primary use of Filicium decipiens is ornamental landscaping. It is planted as a:
Shade tree in parks and large gardens.
Street tree along avenues and boulevards.
Accent plant in tropical-themed gardens.
The tree is not used for consumption and there is no "using way" in a medicinal context as it lacks documented therapeutic properties. The leaves and other parts of the plant are not typically processed into teas, extracts, or topical applications for medicinal purposes.
Conclusion
In summary, Filicium decipiens, the fern tree, is a beautiful and hardy ornamental plant with a graceful form and unique foliage. Despite having various regional names in its native India, it is not recognized as a medicinal herb and there is no scientific basis for its use in herbal remedies. The patents you mentioned for "promoting skin elastin synthesis" and "stimulating elastin synthesis" are not associated with Filicium decipiens; they are related to Vitamin C and Ginsenoside, which are separate compounds found in other plants like ginseng. The plant's true value lies in its aesthetic appeal as a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant shade tree.
