Ostrich fern, Shuttlecock fern
Onoclea struthiopteris

Family: Aspleniaceae

What it is like

A deciduous fern. It grows 90-150 cm high and 60-90 cm wide. The fronds form an outer ring of sterile fronds. These are gently arching and yellow-green. They can be 90 cm long. The shorter greenish-brown fronds are fertile. The fronds are broadly spear-shaped, very thin and deeply cut. They have blackish-brown midribs.

There are 3 or 4 Matteuccia species. Also put in the family Woodsiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It needs damp conditions. It needs good light but not direct sun. It suits hardiness zones 3-10. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Asia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Caucasus, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Europe, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Manchuria, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mongolia, North America, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Siberia, Slovenia, Sweden, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The coiled fronds are eaten. They are eaten raw or cooked. They are also cooked in stir fried dishes and soups. The thick unrolled fronds are salted and boiled and served on toast with oil or butter. The starch in the rhizomes are used for noodles. The rootstocks are eaten boiled or roasted.

It is commonly used in Yunnan. The fiddleheads are sold in markets. They are available fresh in markets or frozen or canned. They are foraged and eaten in restaurants in Sweden.

Edible parts

Fronds, leaves, root, vegetable

How it is grown

It is grown by offsets from the runners. It can be grown from spores but this is very slow.

Its other names

Local names

Bai jue, Chaduna, Da yi, Gvimra, Huangguaxiang, Jitoucai, Jiwacai, Jiercai, Le yi, Navadna peruša, Sorma

Synonyms

Matteuccia nodulosa Fernald; Matteuccia pensylvanica (Willd.) Raymond; Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Todaro; Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica (Willd.) C.V. Morton; Struthiopteris nodulosa Desv.; Struthiopteris pensylvanica Willd.; and several others