Boat fern
Pleocnemia irregularis

Family: Aspleniaceae

What it is like

A robust fern. It has a thick rhizome. It grows in the soil. It is scaly. It grows up to 2 m high. The rhizome is erect and 10-30 cm long and mostly underground. It is 5-10 cm across. It has roots on all sides. The leaves are arranged in spirals. The leaves are twice divided. They are 1 m long and 70 cm wide. The leaflets are deeply lobed. The leaflets near the base are the largest. The spore bodies or sori are all over the underside of the leaves.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It tends to grow on dry slopes in dense forests. It occurs at low to medium altitudes. In Indonesia it grow from sea level to 650 m above sea level. It grows in cool, moist places. It can be in the sun or shade. It is often along rivers.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, Fiji, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Thailand

How it is used for food

The young unfolded leaves are eaten raw or steamed. It is best used cooked in a mixture of other leaves.

Edible parts

Fronds, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

It can be grown by buds and spores.

Its other names

Local names

Ber'ai, Pakis kapal, Paku andam, Paku kapal, Paku kebo, Paku papan

Synonyms

Arcypteris irregularis (C. Presl.) Ching; Aspidium irregulare (C. Presl.) C. Chr.; Dictyopteris difformis (Blume) T. Moore; Dictyopteris irregularis (C. Presl.) C. Presl.; Phegopteris irregularis (C. Presl.) Mett.; Polypodium irregulare C. Presl.; Tectaria irregularis (C. Presl.) Copel.;