Binung fern
Christella dentata

Family: Thelypteridaceae

What it is like

A fern that grows in soil. It has a short creeping rhizome. The fronds have leaflets along the stalk. The fronds are 50 cm long. It has long sori.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in open forests and lightly shaded areas. It grows beside streams and in moist areas up to 1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Angola, Asia, Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Madeira, Malaysia, Middle East, Mozambique, Nigeria, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South America, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves or fronds are cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, fronds

How it is grown

It can be grown from spores or rhizomes.

Its other names

Local names

Anole, Pakis binung

Synonyms

Aspidium molle Sw.; Aspidium violascens Link.; Cyclosorus dentatus (Forssk.) Ching; Drypteris dentata (Forssk.) C. Chr.; Nephrodium dentatum (Forssk.) Kummerle; Polypodium dentatum Forssk.; Thelypteris dentata (Forssk.) E. P. St John; and several others