Common Name:

General Information

Ophioglossum reticulatum is a perennial fern producing sterile fronds 5 - 8cm long by 4 - 5cm wide with fertile fronds up to 20cm long[]. The erect, cylindrical rhizome is 5 - 20mm long, bearing persistent, thick roots[]. The plants are only present above ground during the rainy season[]. They spread by means of stolons and form rather extensive colonies[].
The fronds are a popular wild food in many areas where the plant grows, even though harvesting them can be time consuming[]. The plants are sometimes sold in local markets[]. Plants are not normally cultivated as a food crop, but are sometimes grown in pots for medicinal use[].

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[].

Botanical References

Range

Pantropical.

Habitat

Grassland in open damp sandy soil at elevations up to 1,500 metres in Africa[, ]. Moist sandy soils, seasonally wet soils, along roads, on termite hills, in montane grassland among rocks and forest margins, from sea-level up to 2,500 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Fern
Height	0.15 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant can become a weed of agriculture, but does little harm because of its small size[].
When grown from spores, plants can be harvested for their leaves after 1 - 2 years[]. When grown from rhizomes collected from the wild, harvesting may start after about 6 months[].
The fronds are irresistible to insects and molluscs[].

Edible Uses

Young fronds are commonly eaten as a salad or vegetable[]. A sweet flavour[]. The leaves should be blanched only; if boiled too much they turn into slime[].

Medicinal

A warm decoction of the rhizome is used topically on boils[].

The leaf juice is drunk against spasms of the heart[].
The leaves, boiled in oil, are applied to wounds[].

The plant is used as an anti-inflammatory medicine[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Spores - very difficult to germinate[].
Division with care since the rhizome is brittle[].

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