Lygodium scandens

Family: Lygodiaceae

What it is like

A small climbing fern. It grows 1-3 m long. The leaves are 1-3 m long. The stalk is thin and flexible and tough. The leaves are towards the ends. They have opposite pairs of leaflets with an uneven number of smaller leaflets (pinnae) along them. They are oval to triangle shaped and 2-4 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. The sterile ones are entire or with slight lobes and the fertile ones are shorter.

Also put in the family Schizaeaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows from the lowlands to 1,200 m above sea level in Indonesia. It grows in humid and swampy locations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Fiji, Guam, Indonesia, Pacific, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The young still curled up leaves are steamed and eaten. They are also mixed with other vegetables.

Edible parts

Leaves, fronds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Nauva, Paku hata beas, Paku hata letik, Ribu-ribu

Synonyms

Hydroglossum scandens (L.) Willd.; Odontopteris scandens (L.) Bernh.; Ophioglossum scandens L.; Ramondia scandens (L.) Mirb.;