Edible: Heart, Fronds, Leaves, Roots
A medium sized fern. It grows 0.5-1.6 m high. It forms extensive spreading patches. The rootstock is creeping and has many branches. The fronds are erect, leathery and dark green. They can be 1 m long. The segments of the fronds are lobed and sword shaped. They are largest at the base of the frond. The largest leaflets are 8-15 cm long by 1-1.8 cm wide. They are leathery. There are hairs on the veins underneath the leaf. The stalk has papery scales on it. The fruit spot of spores are under the leaf in a zigzag line along the edge of the leaf.
A tropical plant. It grows in swamps. It can grow in wet clay soil and sunny locations. It can grow in drier areas with shade. It can stand frost. In Papua New Guinea it grows from sea level to 1,500 m altitude but mostly it is at low altitudes below 50 m. Geelong Botanical Gardens.
Common Names: Hottentot fern, Willdenow's fern, Kulhlhahavaali, Vao tuaniu
Synonyms:
Aspidium unitum var. propinquum (R. Br.) F.M Bail.;
Cyclosorus gongylodes (Schkuhr) Link;
Cyclosorus gongylodes var. hirsutus (Mett.)Farwell;
Dryopteris gongylodes (Schkukr) O Kuntze;
Dryopteris gongylodes var. propinqua (R. Br.) v. Ald. v. Ros.;
Pteris interruptus Willd.;
Thelypteris interrupta (Willd.) K Iwats;
and others