Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets Microlepia speluncae

Edible: Leaves, Shoots, Vegetable, Caution

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.

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.

Common Names: Cave Fern, Limpleaf fern, Kilele, Kirere, Pakis gua, Teanum, Tortum, Tumbin

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