Adiantum caudatum — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Fronds, Leaves

The fronds and leaves are edible.

Known Hazards

Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable. Many ferns also contain thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase.

Where to Find It

It is a tropical plant. It grows on rocks and in rock crevices including limestone. In China it grows in forests and mountain valleys. It grows in shaded places. In Thailand it grows up to 1,000 m above sea level. It needs to be kept moist. It suits hardiness zone 9-11.

Africa, Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Angola, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Bahrain, Burundi, Benin, Brunei, Bhutan, Botswana, Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Congo (Republic), Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, China, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Micronesia, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Kiribati, Comoros, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, 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, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pakistan, Palau, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Seychelles, Sudan, Singapore, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sao Tome & Principe, Syria, Eswatini, Chad, Togo, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Vanuatu, Samoa, Yemen, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How to Identify

A fern. It grows 10-40 cm tall. It has a short erect rhizome covered with scales. The stalk from the rootstock to the leaf blade is 1-15 cm long. It has brown hairs. The leaves are narrow and have leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are 8-35 cm long by 2-4 cm wide and there are 20-44 pairs of leaflets. These become smaller towards the top.

How to Grow

It can be grown from plantlets on the tips of the fronds. It can be grown from spores, rhizomes or division of the clump.

Propagation: Spores. Division of new plants formed at the apex of the fronds.

Medicinal Uses

The fronds are said to be antiasthmatic, antispasmodic. They are used in the treatment of diabetes, coughs, fevers and migraine. The fronds are used externally to treat skin diseases.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Adiantum caudatum, commonly walking maidenhair, tailed maidenhair, trailing maidenhair is a fern in the genus Adiantum and the family Pteridaceae.

Notes

Also put in the family Adiantaceae.

Names & Synonyms

Chakawkria, Slender maiden hair, Suplir berekor, Voanjonala

Adiantum caudatum var. angustilobatum Bonap.Adiantum lyratum Blanco

References (3)

Lalfakzuala, R., 2007, Ethnobotanical usages of plants in western Mizoram. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. Vol 6(3) pp 480-493
Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 851
www.eFloras.org Flora of China