Dennstaedtiaceae Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn

Western Brackenfern

Ojibwa - Food, Soup

Use documented by:
Smith, Huron H., 1932, Ethnobotany of the Ojibwe Indians, Bulletin of the Public Museum of Milwaukee 4:327-525, page 408

View all documented uses for Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn

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Scientific name: Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn
Common names: Western Brackenfern
Family: Dennstaedtiaceae
Family (APG):
Native American Tribe: Ojibwa
Use category: Food
Use sub-category: Soup
Notes: Young fern sprouts used as a soup material. The tips were thrown into hot water for an hour to rid them of ants, then put into soup stock and thickened with flour. The flavor resembles wild rice. Hunters were very careful to live wholly upon this when stalking does in the spring. The doe feeds upon the fronds and the hunter does also, so that his breath does not betray his presence. He claims to be able to approach within twenty feet without disturbing the deer, from which distance he can easily make a fatal shot with his bow and arrow. After killing the deer, the hunter will eat whatever strikes his fancy.

RECRD: 75 id: 31484

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