Food Plants International

164
Names
English: Climbing maidenhair fern Scientific name: Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.)R.Br.
Tok pisin: Synonyms: Ophioglossum scandens L.
Tok ples: Plant family: Schizaeaceae
Description: A climbing fern which keeps growing
from year to year. It grows 1-3 m long and spreads 30-
90 cm wide. It has slender twining stems. The leaf is
the climbing part. The stalk branches and produces 6-
10 small fronds. The leaves are smooth fronds. They
are divided into leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets are
light green with short stalks. The leaflets are 6 cm
long. The edges have fine teeth. The spores are
produced on fertile leaflets which are smaller than the
others. These ones have lobes on the edge. The
slender, horizontal, underground stems are fleshy and
brittle.
Distribution: It is a tropical plant. It can grow in warm
temperate regions. It grows naturally in monsoon
forest near freshwater streams. It grows naturally in
mountain forest. It can form thickets in swampy
coastal country. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Cultivation: Plants are grown from layers or less commonly from spores.
Production:
Use: The fleshy underground stems have been recorded as eaten.
The young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
Food Value: Per 100 g edible portion
Edible Moisture Energy Protein
part
Stems
Leaves
% KJ g
Insects:
Diseases:
Pests:
Importance:
Calcium
mg
Iron
mg
proVit A
µg
proVit C
mg
Zinc
mg