Microlepia speluncae

(L.) T. Moore

Cave Fern, Limpleaf fern

DennstaedtiaceaeLeavesShootsPotential hazards — see below

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves, Shoots, Vegetable, Caution

The leaves and shoots are eaten as a vegetable, though caution is advised.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

It is a tropical plant. It grows in sheltered spots in the rainforest. It grows up to 1,200 m above sea level. It suits humid locations. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,650 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows below 700 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Africa, American Samoa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, China, East Africa, East Timor, Eswatini, Gabon, Guam, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Madagascar, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Philippines, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, West Africa, West Indies, Worldwide, Zimbabwe,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Antigua & Barbuda, Armenia, Angola, Argentina, American Samoa, Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Bahrain, Burundi, Benin, Brunei, Bolivia, Brazil, Bahamas, Bhutan, Botswana, Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Congo (Republic), Cote d'Ivoire, Chile, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Cuba, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Algeria, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Micronesia, Gabon, Grenada, Georgia, French Guiana, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Kiribati, Comoros, St Kitts & Nevis, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, St Lucia, Sri Lanka, Liberia, Lesotho, Libya, Morocco, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Mali, Myanmar, Mongolia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Maldives, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Nepal, Nauru, New Zealand, Oman, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Palau, Paraguay, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Seychelles, Sudan, Singapore, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, Suriname, South Sudan, Sao Tome & Principe, Syria, Eswatini, Chad, Togo, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Tonga, Turkey, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, St Vincent, Venezuela, Vietnam, Vanuatu, Samoa, Yemen, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How to Identify

A large fern. It has creeping rhizomes. These are fleshy. It grows 0.7-2 m high. It forms spreading clumps. The fronds are erect and pale green. They are 0.7-2 m long and the stalks are 30-70 cm long. They are pale brown and hairy. The frond blade is 0.7-1.3 m long by 0.6-1 m wide and they are almost a triangle shape. They are divided 2-4 times. They are dull green. The sori or spore bodies are cup shaped.

How to Grow

Plants can be grown from spores or by division of the clump. Plants do not like to be disturbed. They are slow to establish after moving.

Medicinal Uses

None mentioned.

Notes

There are about 45-50 Microlepia species. They grow in the tropics.

Names & Synonyms

Kilele, Kirere, Pakis gua, Teanum, Tortum, Tumbin

Polypodium speluncae L.Davallia speluncae (L.)Bak.and several others

References (23)

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