Thelypteris kunthii a. Upper part of frond and rhizome, b. Two pinnules to show venation and sori. Drawn by Jane W.Roller. From Correll and Correll 1982.

Wunderlin (1998) included 14 species of Thelypteris native to Florida. Documentation of uses for only two was found, but it is likely that others were similarly applied.

Sturtevant (1955) was told that the leaves were used for “Old Paint Woman’s Sickness” (weakness of limbs and neck). The Seminoles called this malady hamocolo:pî (paint old woman or paint witch, Mikasuki). There is no recorded connection to this use and the plant hamockolo:píntapíntî (paint old-woman’s fern, Osmunda regalis, which see).