About Cibotium barometz (L.) J.Sm.
Cibotium barometz (L.) J.Sm. is currently classified in the fern family Dicksoniaceae. Carl Linnaeus originally placed this tree fern species in the fern family Polypodiaceae in his work Species Plantarum, and it is one of only a small number of tree fern species. When growing erect, this plant reaches just 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches) in height, but it often grows prostrate instead. It forms colonies of plants on open forest slopes and in disturbed areas. Its fronds can grow up to 3 meters (10 feet) long, and its sori are located along the margins of its pinnules. This species is a commonly used folk medicinal herb. During the Middle Ages, it was believed to be the mythical Vegetable Lamb of Tartary, because its woolly rhizomes resemble a lamb. While the species has a wide distribution, it has been extensively collected throughout Southeast Asia. This extensive collection has caused declines in both its total population size and the number of living individuals.
