Information courtesy of Magna Vista High School students

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The plant name, Matteuccia struthiopteris comes from the Ancient Greek word, struthio, meaning ostrich, and pterion, meaning winged. There are many common names, such as ostrich fern, fiddlehead fern, or shuttlecock fern. Some plants in the same family are the field horsetail and eagle fern.

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Its spores can disperse by wind.

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Even though it has spread throughout the northern hemisphere, it is a spring vegetable. It was mostly part of the Canadians diet in the 1700s.

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The ostrich fern is native to North America and grow, in wild wet area. The plant is also common in all New England states.

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The plant can be used to treat wounds and boils. If the plant was to be eaten, it should be boiled for at least 10 minutes. Otherwise it would cause severe food poisoning. Digesting the plant may cause a laxative effect.

 

Aderkas Patrick, Economic history; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02904412

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https://www.drugs.com/npp/ostrich-fern.html

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http://ontarioferns.com/main/species.php?id=4027

http://www.finegardening.com/moss-phlox-phlox-subulata

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https://www.britannica.com/plant/moss-pink

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https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/creeping-phlox