Importance of Ferns

• Ferns commonly known as Vascular Cryptogams, are the seedless vascular plants that evolved after bryophytes. Besides being a lower plant, ferns are economically very important.
• Ferns are used by people for ornamental purposes.
• Fern is a source of food. In Philippines and in Asia the young fronds of certain fern leaves and rhizomes are used for food.
• Dry fronds of many ferns are used as a cattle feed.
• Pteridophytes are also used as a medicine. The fern, Dryopteris yield an anthelminthic drug.
• Made and used as binding and decorative purposes.
• Tropical species of ferns are used as pot plants.
• Pteridophytes are also used as an indicator plant. Equisetum accumulates minerals, especially gold, in their stem. Similarly, Asplenium adulterinum is an indicator of nickel and Actinopteris australis is a cobalt indicator.
• Several ferns have aesthetic values for their beautiful habit, graceful shape of the leaves, and beautiful soral arrangement.