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Hawai'i potato fern
Scientific Name: Marattia douglasii
Family: Marattiaceae
Category: Fern
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Marattia douglasii - Hawai?i Potato Fern
Marattia douglasii, commonly known as the Hawai?i Potato Fern, is a unique and interesting plant found primarily in neotropical regions, with one notable species present in Hawai?i.
Considerations for Pets and Children
- The text mentions the use of raw stalks in traditional medicine. While this doesn't inherently indicate toxicity, it suggests the plant contains substances that may warrant caution.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Marattia douglasii (C. Presl) Baker
- Common Name: Hawai?i Potato Fern
- Order: Marattiales
- Family: Marattiaceae
- Genus: Marattia Sw. (potato fern)
- Species: Marattia douglasii
- Synonyms: pala, kapua ilio
- Alternative Spelling: Marratha?
Distribution and Habitat
- Primarily neotropical, with one species (Marattia douglasii) found in Hawai?i.
- Other Marattia fraxinea are found in Antarctica, Australia, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, and French Polynesia
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Described as a forb/herb (a non-woody plant that is not a grass).
- Marattia is a small genus of primitive, large, fleshy eusporangiate ferns.
Quirky Facts
- In old Hawai?i, the native Hawai?i Potato Fern was used to treat all illnesses of the stomach, and the liquid from the raw stalks was administered.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Pohole fern shoots served with shredded banana & sweet potato chips
- Mentioned in conjunction with sweet potato (`uala), taro greens, hō'i'o or kikawaiō ferns as a food source.
Further Information
- Nucleotide Sequences available via NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information).
- Information may also be found at the United States Department of Agriculture.