Vegetable Fern
Diplazium esculentum

Family: Athyriaceae

What it is like

Diplazium esculentum is an evergreen Fern growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. The flowers are pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 1

Where it is found

River banks, open places in wet ground, at elevations below 900 metres in Sri Lanka.

E. Asia - southern China, Indian subcontinent, through southeast Asia to Indonesia and Philippines.

Conservation Status: Least Concern.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Northeastern India, NW India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Diplazium esculentum is considered the most important edible fern worldwide, rich in iron, phosphorus, potassium and proteins. Its use as a vegetable is prevalent in Asia and Oceania, and it is widely used in the Himalayas. The young leaves are eaten as lalab (a vegetable salad served with sambal) with rice . The young fronds are boiled and used as a vegetable. They are stir-fried and used in salads. Fronds are blanched, boiled or stir-fried and, in some cases, pickled. Often compared to the flavour of over-cooked asparagus, the young fronds are generally cooked before consumption to avoid bitterness. They can be dried and then reconstituted for cooking.

Medicine

Rating: 3

A decoction of the leaves is used as a tonic for women after they have given birth. The plant is used in traditional medicine. Traditional medicinal uses reported for D. esculentum are to treat fever, dermatitis, measles, headaches, pains, coughs, wounds, dysentery, glandular swellings, toothaches and diarrhoea. The species is reported to have laxative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anthelmintic, analgesic, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. D. esculentum extracts exhibited in vitro anti-trypanosomal activity.

Analgesic: Relieves pain.

Anthelmintic: Expels parasites from the gut.

Antibacterial: Kills bacteria.

Antidiarrhoeal: Provides symptomatic relief for diarrhoea. Also see Astringent.

Antiinflammatory: Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.

Antitussive: Prevents or relieves coughing.

Dysentery: Used in treating dysentery - an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Laxative: Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.

Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.

Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Other

Rating: 3

An attractive ornamental garden plant. Diplazium esculentum is an ornamental garden plant with its spores sold online and in local nurseries. It can be grown in containers. Diplazium esculentum is a good groundcover in a semi-shady location (plants performance is poor in a sunny position or deep shade). The dried rhizomes are used as an insecticide and the leaves as green manure and cattle bedding.

Green manure: Fast-growing plants that can be used to increase the fertility of the soil.

Insecticide: Kills insects.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Ground Cover: Ground Cover

How it is grown

Diplazium esculentum ferns are a forest under-storey preferring shady, moist conditions. As the ferns spread very vigorously by rhizomes, it is important to plant them in an area that won't cause problems. Diplazium esculentum is a plant of the humid tropics. In its native habitat, Diplazium esculentum grows in wet valleys, sheltered spots in dry areas, open places on damp ground, marshy areas, secondary forests, rainforests and by riverbanks and canals at elevations from sea level to 2300m. A cold-sensitive plant suitable for the warmer regions and tender to freezing temperatures. Light: Part Sun, Filtered Shade, Shade. Drainage: Well-drained, Moist soil. Soil pH: mildly acid to mildly alkaline. It grows best when organic matter is abundant in the soil . Special soil tolerances: infertile.

Propagating it: Spores - they germinate readily and develop quickly. Division of plantlets that are produced at the roots.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Fern

Hardiness: 8-11

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade

Moisture: Moist

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 not harm people eating an adequate diet rich in vitamin B, though large amounts can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase .

Introduced into a number of countries in Africa, Oceania and North America as an ornamental and as a food source. As it produces a large number of spores it can easily escape cultivation and rapidly spread into new areas. The species is reported as having escaped cultivation and become invasive in Hawaii, USA, New Zealand and Australia.

Its other names

Local names

Akwukwo nni, Cha-kawk, Churuli, Corotonh, Daoche, Daomalai, Denkhi, Dhekia sak, Dhekia shak, Dhekiya, Dumkek, Edible fern, Gamchekoh, Gleilei, Hasdam, Hokapadma, Injjo arxa, Jhur-tyrkhang, Kaaki, Kalasevu-ni-veikau, Kasume, Keeraicurry, Kochiya, Konkodi kura, Kosikosiri, Kukri sag, Kukuling, Kuut khue, Kuware-shida, Lochanch, Machuovu, Masino neuro, Muikhonchuk, Mula, Nchubua, Neuro, Nigrou, Niguro, Ningro, Okang, Ota, Pagu, Paco fern, Pakis beunyeur, Pakis sayur, Pakis wilis, Pako, Paku benar, Paku besar, Paku bunyur, Paku ikam, Paku jukut, Paku kerjaie, Paku luhur, Paku tanjong, Paku-sayur, Palu, Pani nyuro, Pfochou chojii, Pfuchowbu, Phak kuut, Pucha, Pusa, Raramea, Rau don, Rau ron, Surulisoppu, Tagabas, Takuma liliafe, Takuma sisimia, Tyrkhang, Zadha.

Synonyms

Anisogonium esculentum (Retz.) C.Presl. Anisogonium serampurens C. Presl. Asplenium ambiguum Sw. Asplenium esculentum (Retz.) C.Presl. Athyrium esculentum (Retz.) Copel. Asplenium malabaricum Mett. Asplenium moritzii Mett. Asplenium pubescens Mett. Asplenium vitiense Baker. Athyrium ambigua (Sw.) Milde. Callipteris ambigua (Sw.)T.Moore. Callipteris esculenta (Retz.) J.Sm. Callipteris serampurens Fée. Callipteris malabarica J. Sm. Digrammaria ambigua (Sw.) C. Presl. Digrammaria esculenta (Retz.) F?e. D. malabaricum Spreng. D. pubescens Link. D. serampurens Spreng. D. vitiense Carruth. Gymnogramma edulis Ces. Hemionitis esculenta Retz. Microstegia ambigua (Sw.) C. Presl. Microstegia esculenta (Retz.) C.Presl.