African climbing fern, Giant vine fern
Stenochlaena tenuifolia

Family: Blechnaceae

What it is like

A large straggling fern. It is like Stenochlaena palustris except the fertile fronds are twice divided. It has climbing rhizomes. The leaves can be 1.8 m long and shiny green. Fertile leaves are twice divided and sterile leaflets have 20 pairs of leaflets along the stalk. They are 27 cm long by 3 cm wide. There are teeth along the edge. Fertile leaflets have spore bodies underneath. The spores are kidney shaped and colourless.

There are about 6 Stenochlaena species. They are swamp loving ferns of the tropics and subtropics.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in swamp forests.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Australia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Mozambique, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, USA

How it is used for food

The young fiddle-heads are eaten.

It is a minor and only occasionally used vegetable.

Edible parts

Fronds, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Lomaria tenuifolia Desv.; Lomariopsis tenuifolia (Desv.) H. Christ; Stenochlaena mildbraedii Brause;