Adder's tongue fern
Ophioglossum reticulatum
Family: Ophioglossaceae
What it is like
Ophioglossum reticulatum is a tropical, perennial fern growing up to 35 cm high with fronds that are oval with heart-shaped base. The rhizome is erect and cylindrical, exhibiting many thin roots. The plant is a popular nutritious vegetable. The fronds, in particular, are cooked (blanched) or used in salads. A decoction of the rhizome is used topically on boils. The leaves, on the other hand are boiled in oil and applied to wounds. Leaf juice is drunk against spasms of the heart. Plant is grown from spores or rhizome.
Ophioglossum reticulatum is a deciduous Fern growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.
Height (m): 0.2
Where it is found
Grassland in open damp sandy soil at elevations up to 1,500 metres in Africa. Moist sandy soils, seasonally wet soils, along roads, on termite hills, in montane grassland among rocks and forest margins, from sea-level up to 2,500 metres.
Pantropical.
Conservation Status: Status: Least Concern
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Australia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo, East Africa, Equatorial-Guinea, Haiti, Lord Howe Island, India, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tibet, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Zululand.
How it is used
Food
Rating: 4
Young fronds are commonly eaten as a salad or vegetable. A sweet flavour. The leaves should be blanched only; if boiled too much they turn into slime.
Medicine
Rating: 2
A warm decoction of the rhizome is used topically on boils. The leaf juice is drunk against spasms of the heart. The leaves, boiled in oil, are applied to wounds. The plant is used as an anti-inflammatory medicine.
Antiinflammatory: Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.
Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.
Other
Rating: 1
Pots. Plants are not normally cultivated as a food crop, but are sometimes grown in pots for medicinal use. The presence of alkaloids, arbutin, amygdalin, saponin, formic acid and oxalic acid has been shown.
Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.
How it is grown
The plant can become a weed of agriculture, but does little harm because of its small size. When grown from spores, plants can be harvested for their leaves after 1 - 2 years. When grown from rhizomes collected from the wild, harvesting may start after about 6 months. The fronds are irresistible to insects and molluscs.
Propagating it: Spores - very difficult to germinate. Division with care since the rhizome is brittle.
Best place to grow:
Habit: Fern
Hardiness: 10-12
Growth: Medium
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist, wet
Things to keep in mind
Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable. Many ferns also contain thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase.
The plant can become a weed of agriculture, but does little harm because of its small size.
Its other names
Local names
Apatia, Bilai gangse, Chukut sadaun, Chukut siraru, Ektir, Isa nki ntana, Jibha, Jibre sag, Jukut siraru, Lai gangse, Yimuyidun, Adder’s tongue fern, herbe paille en queue, l'un dans l'autre, oreille de souris.