Swamp fern, Giant Fishbone Fern, Tuberous ladder fern
Nephrolepis auriculata

Family: Nephrolepidaceae

What it is like

A large clumping fern. It has underground stems. It keeps growing from year to year and forms dense colonies. The stalks are 30-50 cm long and dark brown. The fronds are 50-200 cm long by 30-40 cm wide. They are erect or arch over. They are dark green and shiny. The leaflets are 15-20 cm long by 1.5-2.5 cm wide. They are oblong or sword shaped. There are rounded teeth along the edge. There is often a small lobe near the base. They taper to the tip. The spore bodies are well away from the leaf edge.

There are about 20-40 Nethrolepis species. They grow in the tropics. Also put in the family Davalliaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in monsoon vine forests. It is often near swamps and streams. It can grow in the soil or on rocks and on trees. It needs plenty of moisture and grows best in the shade. In Sikkim it grows between 300-2,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, India, Northeastern India, Pacific, Solomon Islands, Sikkim, Taiwan

How it is used for food

The underground stems or tubers are dug up, roasted then eaten. The young leaves or fronds are cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Stem, fronds, leaves, tubers, root

How it is grown

Plants are grown from spores and from small plants produced on runners.

Its other names

Local names

Pani amala

Synonyms

Polypodium auriculatum L.; Aspidium biserratum Sw.; Nephrolepis biserrata (Sw.) Schott; Aspidium exaltatum var. longipinnum Benth.;