Adder’s tongue fern

Where does Adder’s tongue fern grow?

Found in: Africa, American Samoa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo, East Africa, Equatorial-Guinea, Eswatini, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Korea, Lord Howe Island, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mozambique, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tibet, Uruguay, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Zululand

Notes: There are about 30 Ophioglossum species. They grow in both tropical and temperate regions. It is a nutritious vegetable.

Status: It is a locally popular vegetable.

Growing Adder’s tongue fern

Cultivation: Plants are grown from spores. They can also be grown from parts of the roots (rhizomes).

Edible Uses: The fronds are cooked as a vegetable. They are also used in salads. The leaves should only be very lightly cooked to avoid them turning into slime. The harvested plants can be stored for 5-6 days. They are also cooked in stir fried dishes and added to soups.

Production: It is only present above ground in the rainy season. Harvesting can start after 6 months with plants grown from rhizomes. When grown from spores it takes 1-2 years.

Nutrition Info

Adder’s tongue fern Photos

References

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