English

an oak fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris)

Alternative forms

• oakfern

Noun

oak fern ‎(plural oak ferns)

1. Any of various ferns which grow on trees and walls
   1. genus Gymnocarpium (syn Thelypteris)
   2. especially common polypody (Polypodium virginianum, native to North America, and Polypodium vulgare, native to Europe), formerly thought to have medicinal properties when found growing on an oak.
      • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, II.12:

        Why say we, that […] to know the vertue of Reubarb, qualitie of Oak ferne, and operation of Polipodie, is only peculiar unto man?