Diplazium esculentum, the vegetable fern, is an edible fern found throughout Asia and Oceania. It is probably one of the most commonly consumed ferns.

The genus Diplazium is in the family Athyriaceae, in the eupolypods II clade

Uses

The young fronds are stir-fried and used in salads.

They may have mild amounts of fern toxins but no major toxic effects are recorded.

It is known as pakô ("wing") in the Philippines, The fern species Diplazium esculentum is believed to have been introduced and naturalized in Hawaii and was first reported collected in 1910.

Pharmacological effects

The extract also had alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity.

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File:Yam phak khut.jpg|Yam phak khut, a Thai salad of fern leaves and pork

File:Ensaladang Pako with salted egg.jpg|Ensaladang pako (fern salad) with salted egg from the Philippines

Image:DiplaziumEsculentumCoorg.jpg|Habitat

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See also

  • Fiddlehead fern
  • Sphenomeris chinensis

References