Chapter 6.27
6.27 - Matteuccia Struthiopteris
Lynn Strik , University of Guelph, Canada
Suggested citation for this chapter.
Strik ,L. (2022) Greens, Fleshy Stems and Gourds. In The Student Encyclopedia of Canadian Indigenous Foods. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.firstnationsfoods.org/
Introduction
Matteuccia struthiopteris, also known as the ostrich fern, belongs to the family Onocleaceae (Singla et al., 2022). The ostrich fern is a leafy green plant with a feather-like appearance (Singla et al., 2022). Ostrich ferns reproduce without flowering and are therefore considered to be foliage plants (Singla et al., 2022).
The plant is native to North America, Eastern Asia, and Europe (Heath 2022). Ostrich ferns are technically not an invasive species but tend to spread rapidly (Heath 2022). Refer to Figure 1.
History
The scientific name of the Ostrich fern, known as the Matteuccia struthiopteris commemorates the Italian physicist and politician Carlo Matteuccia, of the mid nineteenth-century (Harris 2022). The ostrich fern, when fully developed, gains the appearance of ostrich feathers, hence, the common name; Ostrich Fern (Harris 2022). The fiddlehead fern is distributed throughout temperate regions in northern and eastern Europe (Harris 2022). Furthermore, the plant is also distributed across northern Asia and North America (Harris 2022). The fiddlehead fern is considered a threatened species in certain areas of Europe (Harris 2022). Some ferns besides the ostrich fern that have previously been used as a consumable vegetable include the vegetable fern, also know as the Diplazium esculentum, and the bracken fern, also know as the Pteridium aquilinum (Harris 2022). These ferns were typically consumed in Asia (Harris 2022). Immature fiddlehead fronds have been cooked as a traditional food in northeastern North America and were used to make beer in Norway (Harris 2022). Furthermore, in Russia the fiddlehead fern was commonly used to control gut parasites, and currently the fiddlehead fern is popular in the American state of Maine as a human consumed vegetable (Harris 2022 ).
Appearance
Fiddlehead ferns have dark green tightly coiled stalks when young, that measure to approximately 2-3cm in diameter and furl out as the plant matures (Eick et al., 2021). The plant can reach a height of approximately 4-5cm in length when young and ready for consumption but is able to grow up to three feet tall during the late spring (Eick et al., 2021). The plant can grow several centimeters a day under optimal conditions, causing a limited harvesting period (Edible Wild Food,n.d.) Fiddlehead ferns contain a deep u-shaped groove on the stem and grow in vase-shaped crows (Edible Wild Food n.d.). Young fiddlehead ferns are bright green in colour, have a smooth surface with light brown scales and are harvested for the use as a vegetable (Eick et al., 2021). They tend to have a tender and crisp texture when lightly cooked (Eick et al., 2021).
Health Benefits
It is known as an edible wild fern with several health benefits (Singla et al., 2022). The ostrich fern was commonly used as a vegetable food and a traditional medicine by the Malecite and Mi’kmaq tribes of Southeastern Canada (Li et al., 2015). Previous studies suggested that the ostrich fern contained anti-influenza virus activity compounds (Li et al., 2015). The plant has been proven to be effective in the treatment of several diseases such as diabetes, viral infections, and microbial infections (Singla et al.,2022). In addition, previous experimental studies indicated that the ostrich fern fiddlehead contained very rich and unique sources of antioxidant compounds (Delong et al., 2011).
Nutritional Values
Fiddlehead ferns contain high quality nutritional values such as antioxidants, vitamins, and omega essential fatty acids (USDA, 2019). The plant is high in vitamin-A and carotenes and is an excellent source of minerals and electrolytes such as potassium, iron, manganese, and copper (USDA, 2019). Fiddlehead ferns provide approximately 11% of the required daily intake of potassium which assists in maintaining a healthy blood pressure (Jordan 2022). The plant provides approximately 34% of required daily vitamin C intake which strengthens the immune system (Jordan ,2022). Furthermore, ostrich ferns provide 10% of daily fiber intake which has several health benefits such as maintaining bowel health, lowers cholesterol, controls blood sugar, and can reduce risk of heart disease (Jordan ,2022).
Preparation for Consumption
Fiddlehead ferns should be safely handled and cleaned with fresh water (Jordan 2022). The outside cover of the fiddlehead fern should be removed before cooking and the fiddlehead ferns should be rinsed with fresh water (Jordan 2022). The plant can be cooked by boiling or steaming (Jordan 2022). The plants are toxic when consumed raw, therefore theyshould be boiled for approximately 15 minutes and steamed for approximately 10-12 minutes (J ordan 2022). Fiddlehead ferns are often prepared with a side of rice, pasta, or stir-fry (Jordan 2022).
Environmental Conditions
Optimal environmental conditions for fiddlehead ferns includes rich, moist soil, sun and partial shade in forest habitats (Native Plant Trust n.d.). The ostrich fern grows most successfully in moist sites with alluvial soils near silver and brown ash (Singla et al. 2022). They grow from vertical crowns (Singla et al. 2022). The ostrich fern is most commonly harvested between May and June (Dhir 2020).
Environmental Benefits
Fiddlehead ferns contain shallow rhizomes which trap soil underneath and benefit in the prevention of soil erosion (Native Plant Trust n.d.). The plants offer browse for large herbivore species and provide shelter for small species (Native Plant Trust n.d.). Fiddlehead ferns are larval hosts for several moth species (Native Plant Trust n.d.).
.Reproduction
Fiddlehead ferns can reproduce in two ways. They can reproduce through creating rhizomes and forming new colonies that rapidly spread over approximately 2-4 feet of soil (Johnson’s Nursery n.d.). The plant also commonly reproduces by releasing spores from the sporangia (Johnson’s Nursery n.d.). The spores are generally carried by wind current allowing for the plant to spread (Johnson’s Nursery n.d.). The growing season of fiddlehead ferns starts in the spring to avoid the threat of frost, and lasts for a few weeks every year (Vanderlinden 2022).
Yield
Fiddlehead ferns, when matured, produce approximately seven fronds on average (Vanderlinden 2022). When picking fiddleheads for consumption it is recommended to pick two or three fiddleheads per plant (Vanderlinden 2022) . A strong foliage area with a quantity of 4-5 fiddleheads remaining per plant allows for the fern to properly photosynthesize throughout the growing season, as they don’t grow new shoots once harvested (Vanderlinden 2022). Fiddlehead ferns don’t require a fertilizer application when located in rich, moist soil, under optimal light-shade conditions, however, it comes with potential growth production benefits (Vanderlinden 2022).
Toxicity
Although fiddlehead ferns possess several health benefits, the plants are toxic under certain conditions (Jordan 2022). The first large outbreak of foodborne illness due to the fiddlehead fern occurred in 1994 (Jordan 2022). The cause was due to the consumption of raw or undercooked fiddlehead ferns (Jordan 2022). Foodborne illness related to raw and/or undercooked fiddlehead ferns may result in symptoms such diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and headaches (Jordan 2022). Symptoms may occur 30 minutes to 12 hours after consuming the plant (Jordan 2022). The symptoms usually last less than 24 hours but may last up to three days and may be mild or severe depending on the case (Jordan 2022).
Limitations
The consumption of the Matteuccia struthiopteris is largely restricted in the Eastern provinces of Canada (von Aderkas 1984). Although the ostrich fern was listed as an edible native plant, there have been reported potential toxic effects (Dhir 2020). Furthermore, there have been several reported cases of food poisoning as a result of the consumption of wild raw ostrich ferns (Dhir 2020).
References
1.Delong, J., Hodges, D. M., Prange, R., Forney, C., Toivenon, P., Bishop, M. C., Elliot, M., & Jordan, M. (2011). The unique fatty acid and antioxidant composition of ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) fiddleheads . Canadian Science Publishing. Vol. 91Retrieved from https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/full/10.4141/cjps2010-042
2.Dhir, S. B. (2020). Fiddlehead Fern Poisoning : A Case Report. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. Vol. 31, Iss. 2. 226-229. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2019.12.011
3.Li, B., Ni, Y., Zhu, L., Wu, F., Yan, F., Zhang, X., & Yao, X. (2015, April 30). Flavonoids from Matteuccia Struthiopteris and Their Anti-influenza Virus (H1N1) Activity. Retrieved from https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/np500879t
4.Singla, S., Rana, R., Kumar, S., Thakur, R., & Goyal, S. et al. Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Todaro (fiddlehead fern): an updated review. Bull Natl Res Cent 46, 133 (2022). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1186/s42269-022-00822-z
5.von Aderkas, P. Economic history of ostrich fern, Matteuccia Struthiopteris, the edible fiddlehead. Econ Bot 38, 14–23 (1984). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02904412
6.How to Grow and Care for Ostrich Ferns. (2022, September 6). The Spruce. https://www.thespruce.com/growing-ostrich-ferns-5094167 FoodData Central. (n.d.). https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html
7.What Are the Health Benefits of Fiddlehead Ferns? (2022, June 15). WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-fiddlehead-ferns
8.Specialty Produce. (n.d.). Fiddlehead Ferns. https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Fiddlehead_Ferns_551.php
9.Fiddlehead: Pictures, Flowers, Leaves & Identification | Matteuccia struthiopteris. (n.d.). https://www.ediblewildfood.com/fiddlehead.aspx
10.Native Plant Trust. (n.d.). Matteuccia Struthiopteris.
11.Nursery, J. (2022, October 28). Ostrich Fern | Knowledgebase | Johnson’s Nursery. JNI Knowledgebase. https://kb.jniplants.com/ostrich-fern-matteuccia-struthiopteris/
12.How to Grow and Care for Fiddlehead Ferns (Ostrich Fern). (2022, February 24). The Spruce. https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-grow-organic-fiddlehead-ferns-2539638
13.American Meadows. (n.d.). Ostrich Fern. https://www.americanmeadows.com/perennials/ferns/ostrich-fern
14.Wikipedia contributors. (2022, September 21). Matteuccia. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matteuccia
15.fern life cycle. (n.d.). Britannica Kids. https://kids.britannica.com/students/assembly/view/190714