Blue tree fern
Cyathea contaminans

Family: Cyatheaceae

What it is like

A tree fern. It has erect trunks 5-8 m tall. The trunks can be 20 m tall. The trunks are 12-15 cm thick. It has many roots. These make the base thick. The fronds are 2-3.5 m long and have scales on all surfaces. The fronds are divided 2 or 3 times. The fronds have many side leaflets. These are 50-75 cm long. The secondary leaflets are 8-12 mm long. The spore bodies are on the under surface of the fronds. They are near the rib. The covering over these falls off early. The old fronds fall off.

There are about 800 Cyathea species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They require abundant moisture and do best in part shade. They grow in open forest often near streams. It mostly grows between 200-1600 m. They are frost tender.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam, West Papua

How it is used for food

The young fronds are cooked and eaten with meat. The young pith is cut up and steamed with rice and eaten when tree ferns are being harvested for buildings. CAUTION Leaves of Cyathea ferns are known to contain chemicals called flavenoid glycosides.

In Papua New Guinea, a very common and important green leafy vegetable, especially at pig feasts.

Edible parts

Leaves, fronds, pith

How it is grown

These ferns mostly grow naturally. They are preserved when bush is being cleared for gardens. They can easily be raised from spores on the back of fronds. They can be transplanted if some roots are included and the fronds are trimmed.

Its other names

Local names

Anonotong, Gantaw, Hua ai pet, Pakis pohon biru, Pakong buaya, Paku arjuno, Paku gajah, Paku gajah gunung, Paku pohon, Paku tiang, Paku tihang, Pusa-pusa, Rang tientoa ban, Teratera

Synonyms

Alsophila contaminans Wall. ex Hook.; Alsophila latebrosa Wall. apud Hook.; Chnoophora glauca Blume; Sphaeropteris glauca (Blume)Tryon;