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Matteuccia struthiopteris
(L.) Tod.
Ostrich Fern
Onocleaceae
Matteuccia struthiopteris is a species of fern in the family Onocleaceae. It is native to eastern North America, east of the Great Plains. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental, and its young fronds are eaten and cooked as food. Matteuccia struthiopteris was once classified as Onoclea struthiopteris; it is most closely related to an Asian species, Onocleopsis hintonii (Gastony and Ungerer 1997).
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Description
Matteuccia struthiopteris spreads by rhizomes that are dark brown and covered with brown lanceolate scales that are about 5 mm long. Sterile fronds are a bright green, oblanceolate, 50 to 100 cm long and 18 to 25 cm wide. Stipes are brown, 6 to 10 cm long, and with a deep groove on the upper side. Sterile fronds are pinnate-pinnatifid, papery. They have 40 to 60 pairs of alternate, long-pointed leaflets. Leaflets above the middle are the longest, 10 to 15 cm long and 1 to 1.5 cm wide, lanceolate to linear, with 20 to 25 pairs of oblong lobes. Fertile fronds are shorter than the sterile fronds at 20 to 40 cm long and only 1 to 8 cm wide. They are pinnate, oblanceolate. Leaflets are dark brown, and roll up inwards to hide sori (Wu et al. 2013).
Variety acutiloba exists, native to the Chinese provinces of Henan, Hubei, Shanxi, and Sichuan; its leaflet lobes are more triangular and more acutely pointed (Wu et al. 2013). In North America, variety pensylvanica is found. It differs in details of leafstalk scales and leaflet lobes (FNAEC 1993).
Variety acutiloba exists, native to the Chinese provinces of Henan, Hubei, Shanxi, and Sichuan; its leaflet lobes are more triangular and more acutely pointed (Wu et al. 2013). In North America, variety pensylvanica is found. It differs in details of leafstalk scales and leaflet lobes (FNAEC 1993).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Matteuccia struthiopteris is grown as an ornamental. It prefers moist to wet soils in part to full shade, often being intolerant of hot summers. It grows in USDA zones 3 to 7 (MBG).
The young unfurled fronds of this species, called fiddleheads, are cooked and eaten in New England. They should be cooked thoroughly, because uncooked fiddleheads have been associated with outbreaks of food-borne illness. Additionally, some similar species are known to be toxic. Care is advised (Fuller 2012).
The young unfurled fronds of this species, called fiddleheads, are cooked and eaten in New England. They should be cooked thoroughly, because uncooked fiddleheads have been associated with outbreaks of food-borne illness. Additionally, some similar species are known to be toxic. Care is advised (Fuller 2012).
Distribution
Matteuccia struthiopteris is common in forests and valley wetlands, at altitudes of 100 to 3800 m (eFloras). It is native from Newfoundland, Canada down to about Virginia and then northwest to Alaska; East Asia such as eastern Siberia, China, Korea, and Japan; and central Europe to Russia (Tryon and Lugardon 1991).
Status
Matteuccia struthiopteris is listed on the IUCN Red List as "Least Concern", citing a widespread range and little decline, which would not threaten its population (Maiz-Tome 2016).
References
FNAEC (Flora of North America Editorial Committee), editor. 1993. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 2: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. New York: Oxford University Press.
Fuller, D. 2012. Ostrich Fern Fiddleheads. Cooperative Extension Publications. [accessed 2019 Jun 13]. https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2540e/
Gastony, G. J., and Ungerer, M. C. 1997. Molecular Systematics and a Revised Taxonomy of the Onocleoid Ferns (Dryopteridaceae: Onocleeae). American Journal of Botany, 84(6): 840–849.
Maiz-Tome, L. 2016. Onoclea struthiopteris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T203369A67728463.en.
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Matteuccia struthiopteris. Plant Finder. [accessed 2019 Jun 12]. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e180
Tryon, A. F., and Lugardon, B. 1991. Spores of the Pteridophyta: Surface, Wall Structure and Diversity Based on Electron Microscope Studies. Berlin: Springer.
Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H., and Hong, D. Y., eds. 2013. Flora of China. Vol. 2-3 (Lycopodiaceae through Polypodiaceae). Beijing: Science Press, and St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
Fuller, D. 2012. Ostrich Fern Fiddleheads. Cooperative Extension Publications. [accessed 2019 Jun 13]. https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2540e/
Gastony, G. J., and Ungerer, M. C. 1997. Molecular Systematics and a Revised Taxonomy of the Onocleoid Ferns (Dryopteridaceae: Onocleeae). American Journal of Botany, 84(6): 840–849.
Maiz-Tome, L. 2016. Onoclea struthiopteris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T203369A67728463.en.
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Matteuccia struthiopteris. Plant Finder. [accessed 2019 Jun 12]. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=e180
Tryon, A. F., and Lugardon, B. 1991. Spores of the Pteridophyta: Surface, Wall Structure and Diversity Based on Electron Microscope Studies. Berlin: Springer.
Wu, Z. Y., Raven, P. H., and Hong, D. Y., eds. 2013. Flora of China. Vol. 2-3 (Lycopodiaceae through Polypodiaceae). Beijing: Science Press, and St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
Description
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