Japanese flowering fern
Osmunda japonica
Family: Osmundaceae
What it is like
A fern. It is a large fern. It has 2 kinds of fronds. The blades are twice divided. They are 4-6 cm long by 2 cm wide. The fertile fronds are narrow and covered with brown spore bodies.
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 China it grows between 100-3,000 m above sea level. In Sichuan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Pakistan, SE Asia, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam
How it is used for food
Young fronds are eaten. They are cooked in stir fries, soups and with other foods. They are often dried and parboiled. The starch in the rhizomes is used for making noodles and liqueur.
It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is only eaten locally. It is reasonably commonly eaten.
Edible parts
Leaves, fronds, root, fiddleheads
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Gobi, Kkaechimi, Kkochimi, Kobi, Na bu gan, Shuijuecai, Zen mai