the sword fern "takes the pain away!". This traditional use has spread among the hiking communities and youth scouting organizations of the region, where it is a common piece of hiker's lore that a rash from a stinging nettle can be counteracted by rubbing the spores on the underside of sword fern on the area. In spring, when other food is unavailable, Quileute, Makah, Klallam, Squamish, Sechelt, Haida, and other Native American/First Nations peoples roasted, peeled, and ate the rhizomes. The fronds were used to line fire pits and food drying racks and as filling for mattresses. The plant is also cultivated for its ornamental foliage, which florists include in vases. References External links USDA Plants Profile: Polystichum munitum Jepson eFlora Treatment of Polystichum munitum Calflora Database: Polystichum munitum (western sword fern) Flora of North America: Polystichum munitum USFS Profile: Species: Polystichum munitum munitum Ferns of California Flora of the West Coast of the United States Flora of the Northwestern United States Flora of Alaska Flora of Baja California Flora of Mexican Pacific Islands Flora of California Flora of British Columbia Flora of Montana Flora of Oregon Flora of South Dakota Flora of the Cascade Range Flora of the Great Basin Flora of the Klamath Mountains Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Natural history of the Channel Islands of California Natural history of the San Francisco Bay Area Taxa named by Carl Borivoj Presl Garden plants of North America Flora without expected TNC conservation status