Jaluko, Grape fern
Botrychium lanuginosum

Family: Ophioglossaceae

What it is like

A fern which grows on land. It has a stout rhizome. The fern is fleshy. It is covered with hair like scales. The fronds are solitary and 12-35 cm long. They are delta shaped. The stipes are about 30 cm long and like fibres. The fertile branch arises from the middle of the sterile portion. It is divided 3 times. The sporangia are yellow. They occur in two rows.

There are about 25-40 Botrychium species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It occurs throughout Nepal between 1500-3000 m altitude. It grows in exposed, wet places. It can be on rocky walls where humus has accumulated.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, America, Asia, Bhutan, Europe, Himalayas, India, Japan, Nepal, Nigeria, Sri Lanka

How it is used for food

The tender fronds are cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Fronds, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from spores or fragments of the rhizome.

Its other names

Local names

Jaluko

Synonyms

Japonobotrychium langinosum (Wallich ex Hook & Greville)Nishida ex Tagawa; Botrychium virginianum (L.)Sw. var. lanuginosum Bedd.; Osmundopteris lanuginosa (Wall. ex Hook. et Grev.)Nishida;