Vegetable-fern, Paco fern
Diplazium esculentum
Family: Athyriaceae
What it is like
A large fern with an upright stem. It forms tufts. It is only woody near the base. It can be 1 m high and 1 m wide. It usually grows as a large clump. It spreads by underground runners. They have feather like fronds which are 50 to 80 cm long and divided 2 or 3 times. The leaf stalks are black near the bottom. The secondary leaflets are pointed at the tip. The end sections of the leaf are many, about 8 cm long and 1 cm wide. The leaflets are notched like a saw and about 2 to 5 cm long.
There are about 400 Diplazium species. They have also been put in the families Aspleniaceae and Woodsiaceae.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in moist tropical places. It mostly occurs in coastal areas. It is common in wet areas. It grows along riversides and in wet areas usually with running water. It grows in wetlands. It also occurs in Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Fiji and is used as a food there. They are widely distributed in the Philippines on areas of gravel and the banks of streams. Plants are frost tender. In Vietnam it grows up to 2,000 m above sea level. In China it grows between 100-1,200 m above sea level. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bougainville, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Northeastern India, NW India, Oceania, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Papua
How it is used for food
The fronds are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are also used in stews. They can be fried. They can be steamed in earth ovens. They are cooked with daal. Very young leaves are also eaten raw in salads.
It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. One of the commonly used and popular ferns of the Asian tropical lowland areas. Young freshly uncurled fronds are common in markets.
Edible parts
Fronds, leaves, vegetable
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from spores. They need to be in a well drained potting medium and kept with a high humidity. The spores need a temperature of 21°C and sown as soon as ripe. Plants should be transplanted into a moist well drained soil with partial shade. Plants can also be grown by separating out the underground runners.
The fronds will only store for a very short time so need to be used quickly.
Its other names
Local names
Akwukwo nni, Aule chipley nigro, Bajey, Cha-kawk, Churuli, Corotonh, Daoche, Daomalai, Denkhi, De pi, Dhekia sak, Dhekia shak, Dhekiya, Dhuskia, Dumkek, Edible fern, Gamchekoh, Gleilei, Guo gun, Hasdam, Hokapadma, Injjo arxa, Itsatam, Jhur-tyrkhang, Jiao gai, Kaaki, Kalasevu-ni-veikau, Kasroor, Kasume, Keeraicurry, Kochiya, Konji, Konkodi kura, Kosikosiri,Kuanji, Kukri sag, Kukuling, Kuturke, Kutherku, Kuthalla, Kuut khue, Kuware-shida, Lauta, Lingra, Lingura, Lochanch, Machuovu, Mangaling, Masino neuro, Muikhonchuk, Mula, Nchubua, Neuro, Nigrou, Niguro, Ningro, Niuro, Okang, Ota, Pagu, Pahu, Pakis beunyeur, Pakis sayur, Pakis wilis, Pako, Pakpako, Paku benar, Paku besar, Paku bunyur, Paku ikam, Paku jukut, Paku kerjaie, Paku luhur, Paku pukut, Paku tanjong, Paku tanjung, Paku-sayur, Palu, Pani neuro, Pani niguro, Pani nyuro, Pfochou chojii, Pfuchowbu, Phak kud, Phak kuut, Pucha, Pundukum, Pusa, Raramea, Rau don, Rau ron, Surulisoppu, Tagabas, Takang, Takuma liliafe, Takuma sisimia, Ta-wai, Tyrkhang, Wakal, Zadha
Synonyms
Anisogonium esculentum (Retz.) Presl.; Asplenium esculentum Retz. Athyrium esculentum (Retz.) Copel; Callipteris esculenta (Retz.) J. Sm. ex T. Moore & Houlston; Callipteris esculenta var. pubescens (Link) Ching; Hemionitis esculentum Retz.;