Species: Pteridium aquilinum
English Name: Bracken or Eagle fern
Chinese Name: 蕨、蕨菜、肴粉蕨、龍菜
Family: Pteridiaceae
Description:
It’s called eagle fern because of the shape of the mature fronds appearing akin to an eagle’s wing. Or it can also be because the pattern of the fibbers seen in transverse section of the stipe resemble a double-headed eagle.
It contains carcinogenic compounds. In Japan where the young stem is consumed as a vegetable, it is predicted to have the higher rates of stomach cancer in the world.
© 2007 Mark Casarotto
© 2013 John Beetham
Photos used under a Creative Commons license
References:
– Department of Gardens and Green Areas, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macao Special Administrative Region, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science 2005. Flora of Macao (Volume 1). Macao, SAR: Author