Ladder fern, King weeper
Nephrolepis biserrata

Family: Nephrolepidaceae

What it is like

A tufted fern with slender runners. The rhizomes have scales. The fronds can be up to 2.5 m long, erect and bright green. They are divided once. It is a coarse woody fern that grows in tangled colonies. These small plants grow from the branched wiry runners. The spore bearing bodies are round and lie in a row between the midrib and leaf edge.

There are about 20 Nethrolepis species. They grow in the tropics. Also put in the family Davalliaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It prefers open or lightly shaded areas often along rocks. It can grow as an epiphyte on the trunks of palms. It is very frost tender. It probably grows up to about 1000 m altitude. It can tolerate some salt. Often it is in wet areas in soil with a high humus content.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, China, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial-Guinea, Fiji, French Guiana, Guam, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guyana, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Niue, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Polynesia, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young shoots and rhizomes are eaten. It is the young uncurled leaves that are used. The rots are pounded into flour.

Edible parts

Roots, fronds, rhizome, vegetable, leaves

How it is grown

The ferns are easily grown in warm areas, but they are not easily transplanted. They can be grown from spores or more commonly by separating off the small plants.

Its other names

Local names

Asaha, Broad sword fern, Dageang, Dakeang, Julia, Likekele, Pakis pedang raksasa, Paku harupat, Paku kubok, Paku larat, Paku uban, Pau bulat, Saqato, Sulufe, Te keang

Synonyms

See Nephrolepis auriculata (L.) Trimen Nephrolepis acuta Presl.;