A perennial plant growing to 0.01m. Roots 7-21, to 3 cm, 1 or 2 perforating scale. Fronds obovate to circular, flat or rarely gibbous, 2-10 mm, 1--1.5 times as long as wide, apex rounded or pointed, upper surface sometimes with red spot in center; veins 7-16(-21); turions sometimes present, rootless, brownish olive, circular-reniform, 1-2 mm diam. Flowers: ovaries 1-2-ovulate. Fruits 1-1.5 mm, laterally winged to apex. Seeds with 12-20 distinct ribs.

Antipruritic, antipyretic, cardiotonic, carminative, diaphoretic and diuretic (whole plant)

Plants For A Future

The decoction of dried whole plant is used in the treatment of colds, measles, oedema and difficulty in urination.

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 606, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.