Blechnum orientale
L.
Bungwall, Mountain fern cat, Centipede fern
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(c) leung-, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Rhizome, Root, Fronds, Leaves, Vegetable
The rhizome is eaten after cooking and pounding, and boiled. Fresh fronds and fiddle heads are used as vegetables, in stir-fries, and added to soups.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It occurs in rainforest and swampy areas. It suits humid locations. It grows best with regular water but can tolerate some sun and dryness. It grows in forest clearings and along roadsides. It is frost tender. It can grow on rocky edges of waterfalls. In China it grows between 200-1,000 m above sea level. In Yunnan.
Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Fiji, Guam, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mariana Islands, Micronesia, New Zealand, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Pohnpei, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, Yap,
How to Identify
A medium to tall fern. It grows 0.3-1.2 m tall. It forms round clumps. The stem is short and has brown scales with very small teeth. The fronds can be 1 m high. The fronds are spreading or erect, forming a rosette. They often droop at the tips. The side leaflets are thin and long, with a long pointed tip. They do not have teeth along the edge. They are about 20-25 cm long and 0.8-1.8 cm wide. They are attached directly to the stalk. The youngest leaflets are pink. The leaf segments are rounded and smallest at the base. The fronds are dark green and shiny. The spore bodies are produced under the fertile fronds which have an appearance similar to the other fronds. These spores occur in a long continuous line along both sides of the midrib.
Nutrition Score: 26/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | 88.5 | 167 | 40 | 1.2 | — | 0.3 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
| Rhizome | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How to Grow
Plants are grown from spores.
Medicinal Uses
The plant is anthelmintic, antiviral, contraceptive and tonic. It is used in the treatmenr of urinary complaints, impotence; boils in infants and older children and diarrhoea. In Papua New Guinea it is believed that total sterility in women can be achieved by eating the new leaves of this plant each day for three successive days, then waiting a fortnight and repeating the treatment. A paste of the young fronds is applied topically to treat abscesses and fungal skin infections, esp ringworm, and also to stop bleeding. The plant contains an essential oil, phenolic compounds and triterpenoids.
Other Information
It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.
Notes
There are between 150 and 200 Blechnum species. It is used in medicine.
Names & Synonyms
Dhekiashak, Dheki shak, Ge long, Haththazori, Julia roroa, Khammouan, Mahrekenleng, Majuwa, Paku jahe, Paku kelindang, Paku lipan, Paku lobang, Parangipang, Rang dua dong, Vawm-ban, Vomban
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