Stenochlaena tenuifolia
(Desv.) T. Moore
African climbing fern, Giant vine fern
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(c) Roddy CJ Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Roddy CJ Ward
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(c) Flashberry, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Flashberry, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A large straggling fern. It is like Stenochlaena palustris except the fertile fronds are twice divided. It has climbing rhizomes. The leaves can be 1.8 m long and shiny green. Fertile leaves are twice divided and sterile leaflets have 20 pairs of leaflets along the stalk. They are 27 cm long by 3 cm wide. There are teeth along the edge. Fertile leaflets have spore bodies underneath. The spores are kidney shaped and colourless.
Edible Uses
The young fiddleheads are eaten as an occasional vegetable.
Traditional Uses
The young fiddle-heads are eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
The sap is taken with a ripe banana as an aphrodisiac.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows in swamp forests.
Where It Grows
Africa, Angola, Australia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Mozambique, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, USA,
Cultivation
A very adaptable plant, able to grow in full sun even though deep to moderate shade are its normal habitat. Plants can succeed in moist soils as well as the wetter conditions they usually grow in. Prefers an acid soil. The plant was introduced to Florida, where it is now considered to be a weed.
Other Uses
Stenochlaena tenuifolia can be used as ground cover. An excellent ground cover for positions that are too wet and shaded for other plants, able to quickly cover large areas.
Other Information
It is a minor and only occasionally used vegetable.
Notes
There are about 6 Stenochlaena species. They are swamp loving ferns of the tropics and subtropics.
Synonyms
References (5)
- Gard. Chron. 1856:193. 1856
- Grubben, G. J. H. and Denton, O. A. (eds), 2004, Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. p 508
- Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 112
- Goudey, C.J., 1988, A Handbook of Ferns for Australia and New Zealand. Lothian. p 168
- Maroyi, A., 2014, Not just minor wild edible forest products: consumption of pteridophytes in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 10:78
