Edible ferns among the favourites from Sarawak
MOST people are familiar with indigenous ferns as they have become a favourite veggie in their daily diet.
There are several varieties that are becoming popular with consumers.
Ferns commonly consumed by locals are paku pakis (diplazium esculentum) that grows in wet swamps and whose leaves have high fiber content and antioxidative function; paku midin (stenochlaera palustris), the favourite among local ferns with a good content of phenolic compounds and antioxidants and paku kubuk (nephrolepis biserrate) that can increase lactation for young mothers and is the favourite veggie among the Ibans.
Others include paku tunjuk langit (helmlinthostachys zeylanica), paku piai (acrostichum aureum) and paku roman (geratopteris thatlictoides).
Research on cancergenic contents of ferns seems to be lacking. Once a while, we do hear about the unhealthy aspects of fern consumption.
The Medical Department has not done any research yet. The Sarawak Biodiversity Centre also cannot shed light on the cancerogenic effects of ferns.
However, according to my Uni-mate, Thomas Wong, the work done at the KK Medical Department shows there is a likely cause of stomach cancer.
Health hazard
MU Professor Emeritus Datuk Mohd Abdul Majid said the various types of local ferns are rich in fibre contents and antioxidants.
The chemical content that causes health concern is called ptaquilosode, found in some ferns. The compound has been found in the milk and meat of livestock in areas where bracken ferns grow.
According to the Veterinary Report in Australia, lambs have died due to contamination of the milk from the mother sheep which has eaten bracken ferns in the pasture.
The authorities have urged the livestock industry to get rid of this weed in the pasture.
In Malaysia, the compound is found in bracken ferns (pteridim aquilinum), hypolepis and pteris.
According to Professor Emeritus Datuk Mohd, this carcinogen is not found in the popular paku midin.
Meeting demand
The Department of Agriculture started research and recommended growing paku midin some 25 years ago. However, there seems to a general shortage and prices have risen.
As it’s now less available in the wild, various farms have started commercial production of paku midin.
I heard from a former colleague the main production is along the bank of Batang Baram, not far from Miri town.
The original natural peat swamp land is home to paku midin. The producers have managed the situation in the wild by creating passage for workers to go in and improve the habitats with nutriens and are, thus, able to produce super-size ferns which are bigger than the chopstick-size variety.
These paku midin are exported to overseas markets. Not long ago, a former colleague at Green Road, Kuching, planted this fern on a hedge on his plot of land and produced enough for the consumption of his family.
It’s a question of whether we want a clean and neat fence or the natural covering of this otherwise native weed to dominate the border and offer us some fresh veggies.
I would recommend more planting near the home garden to give us pesticide-free veggies.
Native jungle markets
During a recent visit to the wet markets in Serian and Sri Aman, I found that special sites were allotted to the native markets where one could find many indigenous herbs and veggies — plus seasonal fruits.
For me, the market itself was already very interesting, what more with the displays of native fruits one hardly sees in supermarkets or even fruit outlets.
The all-time favourite of the ferns — the subject we are currently discussing – are midin, paku and other creepers. But native fruits are also sought after such as the butter fruit or engkala and the local native durian (durio kutejensis), a waxy sweet fruit.
There are at least nine species of these durians that don’t actually smell or taste like ordinary durians.
The new fruiting season is approaching and I hope all will enjoy a bountiful harvest.
From my own farm, there seems to be more fruits than last time — like lansak, mangosteen dabai and some others.
Happy gardening!