Drynaria sparsisora (Desv.) T. Moore

Akar kusu (Drynaria sparsisora) is an epiphytic fern up to 0.5-1 m long of the Polypodiaceae family, distributed from Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia to Southern China and Polynesia. In Indonesia, this plant is commonly found growing wild around oil palm plantations. Traditionally, akar kusu is used as a vegetable as well as a remedy for eye ailments, diarrhea, and swelling.

This plant grows alternately or spirally on primary and secondary trunk surfaces in open forests up to an elevation of 1,700 m above sea level, very drought-tolerant.

• Roots taproot, cylindrical, brown.
• Stem climbing or creeping, reduced to a root- or rhizome-like structure, surface scaly with dark brown scales.
• Leaves simple, green, oblong, lobed margins, pointed tip, tapering base, 25-40 cm long and 15-20 cm wide, pinnate venation.
• Spores round, brown, spread across the underside of the leaf.

• Propagated by spores.
• Propagation is easier by rhizome division.
• Most Drynaria species can be easily grown on rocks or trees in tropical gardens or in pots with coarse soil.

Tannins, flavonoids, steroids, polyphenols, cardenolides, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins.

Treats diarrhea, swelling, boils, gonorrhea, vomiting, loose stools, eye ailments; eases childbirth; treats ear infections.

Information not yet available.

Paku langlayangan (Sunda), Simbar (Bali), Simbar layangan (Java), Barang-barang (Makassar), Lilianga (Ternate).