Christmas fern, Hard shield fern, Prickly shield fern, Kuthiore, Kuthurka
Polystichum aculeatum

Family: Dryopteridaceae

What it is like

A medium sized fern. It grows 60-90 cm high and 30-74 cm wide. The rhizome is tufted. It has broad, arching, vase shaped shuttlecocks. These are formed by the narrow, sword shaped, divided fronds. The fronds are leathery and dark green. They produce clear rows of brown spores underneath.

There are about 200 Polystichum species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It grows in damp rocky country. In NW China it grows in Picea forests at about 1,900 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Britain, Central Asia, China, Europe, Himalayas, India, Indonesia, Luxembourg, SE Asia, Tajikistan

How it is used for food

The tender parts are used as a vegetable. They are used in curries.

Edible parts

Leaves, fronds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Pakis perisai keras, Quathode

Synonyms

Polypodium aculeatum Linn.; and others