Giant fern, Giant leather-fern
Acrostichum danaeifolium
Family: Pteridaceae
What it is like
A fern. The fronds can be 2-4 m long. The fronds have 20-60 pairs of leaflets.
Also put in the family Adiantaceae.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. In Argentina it grows from sea level and up to 100 m above sea level. It grows in brackish and freshwater marshes.
Countries/locations it is found in
Argentina, Brazil, Central America, North America, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, South America, St. Kitts and Nevis, USA, Virgin islands, West Indies
How it is used for food
The young buds are eaten as a vegetable.
Edible parts
Buds, fiddleheads, vegetable
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Helecho, Inland leather fern
Synonyms
Acrostichum excelsum Maxon; Acrostichum leptophlebium Baker; Chrysodium lomarioides Jenman; Chrysodium lomarioides var. hastatum Christ;