Golden Mangrove fern
Acrostichum aureum

Family: Pteridaceae

What it is like

A fern with a short to medium creeping rhizome. The rhizome is up to 3 cm thick. It has large fleshy roots. The fronds are erect and up to 4 m long. The leaflets are large, thick and leathery. They are only divided once. They have blunt tips. They often have a yellowish colour. It grows in clumps or spreads out over the ground. Under the uppermost leaves there is often a mass of spores in a brown sugary mass.

There are 3 Acrostichum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. Usually found in open swampy or mangrove situations. It cannot tolerate saltwater. It grows in Australia in the Northern Territory and Queensland. It is eaten in the Solomon Islands. It occurs throughout the tropics. It is very frost tender. It occurs in brackish pools and swamps and creeks near the beach. It can be on cliff-faces by the sea.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caroline Islands, Central Africa, China, Chuuk, East Africa, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, FSM, Gabon, Ghana, Guam, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Mozambique, Niue, North America, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, Tahiti, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turks & Caicos, USA, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, West Africa, Yap

How it is used for food

The young leaves (unfolded fronds) are eaten in salads. They are also cooked.

It is used as food in Australia, but it is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Shoots, roots, fronds, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

It is slow to re-establish if transplanted. Often transplanted plants die. The best option is to transplant young plants growing from spores. It can be grown from spores.

Its other names

Local names

Akohorafanjava, Babasaga, Boresi, Boreti, Caca, Drababasavuga, Hagnaya, Hana meamea, Kalakeok, Kerakas, Khari bhaji, Kolovolo, Leather fern, Maakula hangali, Mayefungi, Marsh fern, Pakis laut, Paku larat, Paku laut, Palatava, Peye, Piai, Prang tuk, Sa'ato, Swamp fern, Vativati, Wihakas

Synonyms

Acrostichum guineense Gaudich.; Acrostichum inaequale Willdenow; Chrysodium aureum (L.) Mett.; Chrysodium inaequale (Willd.) Fee; Chrysodium vulgare Fee;