Black marsh fern
Sphaeropteris moluccana

Family: Cyatheaceae

What it is like

A tree fern. The trunk is 50 cm tall. The fronds are 1.7-3 m long and divided. The stalk is dark and has scales near the base. The groups of spores are in 2 or 3 rows.

There are about 800 Cyathea species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forests from sea level to 900 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The young fronds are eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, fronds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bug marsh fern, Paku gajah paya, Paku hitam paya, Paku pahat, Paku selamah

Synonyms

Cyathea brunonis Wallich ex W.J. Hooker; Cyathea fuscopaleata Copeland; Cyathea kinabaluensis Copeland; Cyathea moluccana R. Brown;