Fern
Stenochlaena milnei

Family: Blechnaceae

What it is like

A scrambling creeping fern. It has its base rooted to the ground but climbs up trees. The fronds are widely spaced and come out horizontally but then hang down. The rhizome is 10-15 mm across and pale green. Sometimes it is covered with a bluish bloom. The rhizome is smooth but with dark small circular scales. The fronds are 100 - 150 cm long and 3-5 cm wide. The fertile segments of the divided fronds are 4-7 mm wide and 15-30 cm long. They occur higher on the plant.

There are about 6 Stenochlaena species. They are swamp loving ferns of the tropics and subtropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They occur in well drained lowland rainforest. They can occur in sago swamps and near rivers. They occur between sea level and 300 m altitude. They occur in the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Often they occur with Stenochlaena palustris but tends to be more robust and in less swampy conditions.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands

How it is used for food

The young leaves are probably occasionally eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, fronds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Stenochlaena junglandifolia sensu Holttum non Presl.;