Pyrrosia nummularifolia (Sw.) Ching

Sisik naga bulat (Pyrrosia nummularifolia) is a creeping epiphytic fern from the Polypodiaceae family spread from the Himalayas to the Philippines and Sulawesi. Besides being popular as an ornamental, this plant is traditionally used internally to fight coughs. Sisik naga bulat is also believed to help address gum inflammation, canker sores, and vaginal discharge.

P. nummulariifolia is often found as epilithic, on limestone rocks. As an epiphyte, it often grows in tree canopies. Prefers partial shade, high water needs and humid air.

• Roots small.
• Rhizome long-creeping and 2 rows of overlapping sheaths, filiform or thin, 0.6-1.6 mm thick. Scales up to 5.7 mm, brown, ciliate margin at the top, monopodial branching.
• Leaves single, fleshy, dimorphic; sterile leaves sessile or with a petiole up to 2.5 cm, blade round to elliptical, 0.8-5 cm × 0.6-2 cm; fertile leaves with a petiole up to 2.5 mm, blade elliptical to linear, 1.5-12.5 cm × 0.3-1 cm; dimorphic star-shaped hairs, hairs mostly straight, acicular rays separated from a dense layer of hairs with mostly crisp rays, together forming a thick covering especially on the underside of the leaf.
• Sori round, 1-1.5 mm wide, mostly hidden in the star-shaped hairs.

Propagation generatively with spores, and vegetatively with rhizome cuttings and layering. The rhizome segment to be transplanted should contain at least one actively growing apex and must be firmly attached to a moist substrate until the plant is established.

Flavonoids, saponins, tannins, steroids.

Fights coughs and stomach ache, gum inflammation, canker sores, vaginal discharge, cough, pus in urine, unstoppable bleeding, breast cancer.

Picisan (Java), Paku duduitan (Sunda).