Adder’s tongue fern
Ophioglossum reticulatum
Family: Ophioglossaceae
What it is like
A small fern. It is a herb. It grows 5-35 cm high. The rhizome is like a cylinder with many thin roots. The stalk of the frond is 3-8 cm long. The fronds are distinct. The sterile fronds are 3.5 cm long by 2 cm wide. They are oval and the base is heart shaped. The fertile frond is 2-2.5 cm long and on a slender stalks coming from the base of the sterile frond. This plant varies in different countries and regions.
There are about 30 Ophioglossum species. They grow in both tropical and temperate regions. It is a nutritious vegetable.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows amongst grass in open forest. In Nepal it grows up to 1400 m altitude. In West Africa to 1,500 m altitude. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,600 m above sea level. It grows in moist, shady places. It grows in sandy soils and in seasonally wet places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, American Samoa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial-Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Liberia, Lord Howe Island, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rica, Rwanda, Reunion, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Zululand
How it is used for food
The fronds are cooked as a vegetable. They are also used in salads. The leaves should only be very lightly cooked to avoid them turning into slime. The harvested plants can be stored for 5-6 days. They are also cooked in stir fried dishes and added to soups.
It is a locally popular vegetable.
Edible parts
Fronds, leaves, stem, vegetable
How it is grown
Plants are grown from spores. They can also be grown from parts of the roots (rhizomes).
It is only present above ground in the rainy season. Harvesting can start after 6 months with plants grown from rhizomes. When grown from spores it takes 1-2 years.
Its other names
Local names
Apatia, Ayoborbok, Bilai gangse, Chukut sadaun, Chukut siraru, Ek patiya, Ektir, Gabachak, Isangutshane, Isankuntshane, Isa nki ntana, Jibha, Jibre dhap, Jibre sag, Jukut siraru, Lai gangse, Nakkuneeti, Pareta, Runs, Ruus, Suga, Tshiimangamulenzhe, Yimuyidun
Synonyms
Ophioglossum aletum M. Patel, M. N. Reddy & H. K. Goswami; Ophioglossum austroasiaticum Nishida; and others