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Ostrich Fern

Ferns and Fern Allies

Matteuccia is a genus of ferns containing a single species, Matteuccia struthiopteris, commonly known as the ostrich fern, fiddlehead fern or shuttlecock fern; its species name comes from the Ancient Greek words for ostrich and fern, describing the shape of its fronds.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Photosynthetic Autotroph 1
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 2
Relationship to People
Used in Traditional Medicine 3
Living or Extinct
Yes 4
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
The ostrich fern's deciduous green sterile fronds are almost vertical, 100-170 cm tall and 20-35 cm broad, long tapering to the base but short tapering to the tip, so they resemble ostrich plumes. 1
Comparison
NatureServe Rank
G5 Secure 5
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 6
Scientific Name
Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Tod. 1
Conservation Status
Least Concern 7
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Pteridophyta, Taxa
Source Wikidata: Ostrich Fern

In Biome

Riparian Zone, Biomes
Source Plants For A Future: Matteuccia struthiopteris
Temperate Forest, Biomes
Source Plants For A Future: Matteuccia struthiopteris
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Belgium

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Czechia

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Denmark

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Finland

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France

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Germany

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Luxembourg

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Netherlands

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North America

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Norway

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Sweden

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Switzerland

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United Kingdom

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United States

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Sources
1. Wikipedia: Matteuccia struthiopteris
  • Introduction
    Matteuccia is a genus of ferns with one species: Matteuccia struthiopteris (common names ostrich fern, fiddlehead fern, or shuttlecock fern).
  • Description section
    The fronds are dimorphic, with the deciduous green sterile fronds being almost vertical, 100-170 cm (39-67 in) tall and 20-35 cm (7.9-13.8 in) broad, long-tapering to the base but short-tapering to the tip, so that they resemble ostrich plumes, hence the name.
  • lead sentence (diet), EntityId 295298
    Matteuccia is a genus of ferns with one species: Matteuccia struthiopteris (common names ostrich fern, fiddlehead fern, or shuttlecock fern).
View the Source
2. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species APIView the Source
3. Plants For A Future: Matteuccia struthiopteris
Plants For A Future
  • Medicinal Uses
    Birthing aid Miscellany A decoction of the leaf stalk base from sterile fronds has been taken in the treatment of back pain and also to help speed up the expulsion of the afterbirth[257].
  • In Biome: Riparian Zone, Habitats
    Light shade on rocky stream banks, forming extensive colonies ... Wooded ravines in Turkey, 650 - 1200 metres
  • In Biome: Temperate Forest, Habitats
    Light shade on rocky stream banks, forming extensive colonies ... Wooded ravines in Turkey, 650 - 1200 metres
View the Source
4. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ1130386, descriptionView the Source
5. NatureServe Explorer: Matteuccia struthiopteris
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)
Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
View the Source
6. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Polypodiales
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 12392
Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 12392
"active":true,"cites_listing":"NC"
View the Source
7. GBIF Secretariat (IUCN Red List category): Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Tod. IUCN Red List category
GBIF Secretariat (IUCN Red List category)category
Quote, category
"category": "LEAST_CONCERN"
View the Source
Wikidata: Ostrich Fern
  • Wikidata Q304969, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
  • Child Taxon Of: Pteridophyta, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source
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