King fern, Giant fern
Angiopteris evecta
Family: Marattiaceae
What it is like
A tree fern. It grows to 6 m high. The crown can be 12 m across. The erect rhizome or trunk can be 1 m high and 80 cm across in older plants. This trunk is fleshy with thick fleshy roots. It can just have a tuft of leaves coming from near ground level. Because there is no hard tissue, the water pressure inside the stalk keeps the leaves erect. This frond will therefore collapse in dry weather. Where the stem of the frond joins the trunk is a large ear-shaped leafy structure (stipule). The leaves are 2-7 m long and 1-2.5 m wide. The leaves can be divided 2 to 4 times. The small leaflets are 13 cm long and finely toothed around the edge. There are 3-7 pairs of spore bearing organs in double rows along the veins. The fronds are very fleshy and contain a lot of starch.
Wild pigs often uproot the plants to eat the fleshy roots. There are up to 100 (200) Angiopteris species. It can become invasive. Also put in the family Angiopteridaceae.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It is a lowland forest plant. They grow naturally on fertile, moist soil in the rain forest. Often they are near streams and waterfalls. It suits humid locations. They commonly grow in partial shade. They grow from sea level to 700 m altitude. In the Himalayas it grows up to 2,100 m above sea level. They can survive some frost once plants are 3-4 years old. They cannot tolerate dry conditions. In Adelaide Botanical Gardens hot house. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bougainville, Central America, China, Costa Rica, East Africa, Fiji, French Polynesia, FSM, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Kosrae, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mariana Islands, Micronesia, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, Polynesia, Rotuma, Ryuku Islands, Samoa, SE Asia, Sikkim, Society Islands, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Taiwan, Thailand, Wallis and Futuna, West Indies
How it is used for food
The young fiddle heads or unopened young fronds are eaten. The swollen leaf base is mixed with other vegetables. Flour can be made from the stalks and rhizomes.
Occasionally used in Papua New Guinea to extract starch. It has been used in the Society Islands.
Edible parts
Young fronds, leaves, rhizomes - starch, vegetable
How it is grown
They are normally grown from the stipules or leafy structure at the base of the leaflet. It may take 12-18 months for the shoots to form. It is difficult to grow this fern from spores. Small plantlets already developing from the base of the fronds can be removed and planted.
Plants grow quickly. They grow slowly in cool areas.
Its other names
Local names
Bom, Bukka, Chahmah, Daomalai gidiba, Elephant fern, Mbalambala, Mati Alu, Mule's foot fern, Nabay, Pakis gajah, Pakuh gajah, Pustangabh, Turnip fern, Wan-kep-ret
Synonyms
Polypodium evectum Forst.f.; and others