Telmatoblechnum indicum

Burm. f.

Bungwall fern, Swamp fern, Swamp Water Fern

Blechnaceae Edible: Rhizome, Root, Fronds, Leaves 727 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Telmatoblechnum indicum (many synonyms including Blechnum indicum) or the swamp water fern is often seen growing on sandy soils in swampy areas. The specific epithet indicum is from Latin, revealing this plant was first collected in the East Indies (Java). Indigenous Australians used the starchy rhizome as food. This plant was collected with another swamp fern Cyclosorus interruptus by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander at Botany Bay in 1770.

Description

A medium sized fern. It grows 0.2-1 m high. It has a long, creeping, branched rhizome. It forms extensive spreading patches. The fronds can be 2 m high in shady places. The fronds are held stiffly erect. They are crowded and shiny green. The segments are narrowly sword shaped. They are leathery and have fine teeth along the edge. The segments are slightly reduced in size towards the base of the frond. The fertile segments are similar to the sterile one.

Edible Uses

The underground rhizomes are dug up, dried in the sun, roasted, and eaten for their edible starch. The fronds and leaves are also listed as edible portions.

Traditional Uses

The underground stems (rhizomes) are dug up, dried in the sun and roasted and eaten. The starch is edible.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The traditional uses indicate the rhizomes and starch have been used as food.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and subtropical places. It grows in swampy low lying places in warm climates. It can grow in open moist places. It can tolerate frost. It cannot stand heavy shade.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, East Timor, Indochina, Malaysia, Pacific, Polynesia, SE Asia, Timor-Leste, Vietnam,

Cultivation

It can be grown by division of the rhizome or from spores.

Notes

There are between 150 and 200 Blechnum species.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Rhizome	7.2	1376	329	3.9	—	—	—	—

Synonyms

Blechnum indicum Burm.f..and others

Also Known As

Anbul(ng)kung, Majuwa

References (25)

Andrews, S.B., 1990, Ferns of Queensland. A handbook to the ferns and fern allies. Queensland DPI p 90
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 151
Chaffey, C.H., 1999, Australian Ferns. Growing them successfully. Kangaroo Press. p 11, 107
Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 194
Cowie, I, 2006, A Survey of Flora and vegetation of the proposed Jaco-Tutuala-Lore National Park. Timor-Lests (East Timor) www.territorystories.nt/gov.au p 45

Show all 25 references

Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 158
Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 269
Edible and Useful Native Plants (off internet)
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1982, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 2. Lothian. p 328
Garde, M., et al, 2003, A Preliminary List of Kundedjnjenghmi Plant Names. Northern Land Council. (Arnhem Land, Australia)
Goudey, C.J., 1988, A Handbook of Ferns for Australia and New Zealand. Lothian. p 70
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 44
Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 33
Levitt, D., 1981, Plants and people. Aboriginal uses of plants on Groote Eylandt, Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, Canberra.
Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 15 (As Blechnum serrulatum)
Low, T., 1991, Wild Food Plants of Australia. Australian Nature FieldGuide, Angus & Robertson. p 58
Low, T., 1992, Bush Tucker. Australia’s Wild Food Harvest. Angus & Robertson. p 19, 109, 111
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Paczkowska, G . & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 23
Pham-Hoang Ho, 1999, An Illustrated Flora of Vietnam. Nha Xuat Ban Tre. p 209
Romanowski, N., 2007, Edible Water Gardens. Hyland House. p 50
Ryan, M. (Ed.), 2003, Wild Plants of Greater Brisbane. Queensland Museum. p 56
Wheeler, J.R.(ed.), 1992, Flora of the Kimberley Region. CALM, Western Australian Herbarium, p 48
White, G., 2008, The Bush Tucker Survival Guide. https://www.survival.org.au
Williams, K.A.W., 1999, Native Plants of Queensland Volume 4. Keith A.W. Williams North Ipswich, Australia. p 74