Blotiella glabra

Family: Dennsteadtiaceae

What it is like

A fern. It has a creeping rhizome of underground stem. The fronds are closely spaced and have reddish-brown hairs. The stem is 80 cm long. The blades are 1.3 m long by 0.8 m wide.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in moist and shaded forest floors between 1,600-1,770 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Reunion, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves are eaten raw or cooked as a leafy vegetable.

Edible parts

Fronds, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Asaha, Oheyi yasi

Synonyms

Lonchitis glabra Bory; Lonchitis gracilis Alston; Lonchitis pubescens sensu Sim; Pteris glabra (Bory) Mett.;