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Diplazium proliferum
(Lam.) Kaulf.
(no common name)
Athyriaceae
Diplazium proliferum is a species of fern in the family Athyriaceae. It is native to Western and Central Africa, as well as Madagascar, and is eaten as a vegetable.
Description
Diplazium proliferum is a large fern with an erect rhizome, which is covered with brown scales at its tip. Leaves are also clustered at the tip of the rhizome, and are slightly leathery and pinnate. The petiole is 3 to 60 cm long and yellowish, with bulbils and young plants growing from the petiole. The blade of the leaf is overall 60 to 200 cm long, with alternate lanceolate leaflets. The leaflets are slightly smaller near the base of the leaf, 6 to 7 cm apart near the middle, and shortly stalked. Leaflets are 15 to 20 cm long and 3 to 5 cm wide, with a squarish base, and a long-pointed tip. Leaflets themselves are lobed with rounded or notched tips and fine teeth. Sori are linear, V-shaped and follow the veins of the leaflets. They are in groups of 4 to 5, but sometimes 7. Indusia are linear and are attached along the vein (van der Burg 2004).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Diplazium proliferum is widely grown as an ornamental. However, the young fiddleheads can also be cooked and eaten, as they are in Madagascar. In Southeast Asia, the fiddleheads and the bulbils on the leaves are boiled and steamed as a vegetable, or eaten raw (van der Burg 2004).
Distribution
Diplazium proliferum is common from Guinea to Cameroon, as well as São Tomé and Príncipe, Bioko Island of Equatorial Guinea, DR Congo, and Madagascar (van der Burg 2004).
Status
References
van der Burg, W.J., 2004. Diplazium proliferum (Lam.) Thouars. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Grubben, G. J. H., and Denton, O.A., editors. PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. [accessed 14 June 2019] http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp
Description
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