Interrupted fern, Kuthurke
Osmunda claytoniana
Family: Osmundaceae
What it is like
A fern. It grows in soil. The fronds are 20-35 cm long and 10-15 cm wide. They are divided into leaflets along the stalk. These segments do not have leaflet stalks. They are almost opposite. The erect sterile fronds have brown spores in the centre but no leaflets above or below this section.
There are about 12 Osmunda species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in wet places and along the edges of stream and ponds. In Nepal it grows between 1400-3300 m altitude. It grows in hillsides in China between 1,600-3,400 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 3-9.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Japan, Korea, Nepal, North America, Russia, Taiwan, USA
How it is used for food
The tender portions of the fronds are cooked as a vegetable. The centre of the clump below the ground has a small edible pith. Caution: They may contain chemicals that cause cancer. The young fiddleheads are boiled, then soaked for a day to get rid of the bitter taste then used in stir fries or pickles.
Edible parts
Fronds, leaves, stem
How it is grown
Plants are grown from spores.