{"id":10421,"date":"2012-03-05T11:03:42","date_gmt":"2012-03-05T16:03:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/?page_id=10421"},"modified":"2024-05-23T09:59:57","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T13:59:57","slug":"2540e","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2540e\/","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin #2540, Ostrich Fern Fiddleheads, <em>Matteuccia struthiopteris<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>By David Fuller, Extension Agriculture, and Non-Timber Forest Products Professional<br><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For information about UMaine Extension programs and resources, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/\">extension.umaine.edu<\/a>.<\/strong><br><strong>Find more of our publications and books at <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/\">extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Part of Maine\u2019s heritage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Fiddleheads from ostrich ferns are an iconic spring edible in Maine. Native Americans were the first to eat them, and their popularity continues to this day. Fiddleheads are so named because of the similarity in shape to the curled scroll of a violin. Fiddleheads are also known as crosiers or croziers, after the crook-shaped pastoral staff of a bishop. In the Passamaquoddy and Maliseet languages, the word for fiddlehead is \u201cmahsus\u201d; in Penobscot, they are \u201cm\u00e1hsosi.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fiddleheads are important to Maine\u2019s economy, with pickers, retailers, and woodland owners earning extra income from them each spring. Fiddleheads are also an important part of Maine\u2019s culture and heritage. The double-curve motif that Wabanaki people sometimes use to decorate artwork bears a strong resemblance to a fiddlehead. Generations of Maine people have made fiddlehead harvesting a rite of spring. It\u2019s important to know which fern fiddlehead to pick and how much to pick so that this valuable resource can be enjoyed for generations to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Ostrich fern biology<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Ostrich ferns in wooded area\" class=\"wp-image-10427\" style=\"width:370px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076-105x79.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076-317x238.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076-423x317.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076-634x476.jpg 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076-846x635.jpg 846w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076-951x713.jpg 951w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076-1268x951.jpg 1268w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076.jpg 1632w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ostrich ferns can be found in shady areas near streams and rivers. Photo by David Fuller.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Ostrich ferns are a perennial that grows in a clump called a crown. Ostrich ferns can produce two kinds of fronds:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>sterile fronds, which are produced from the fiddlehead and grow up to five feet in height, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>shorter, fertile (spore-producing) fronds that emerge several weeks after fiddleheads, growing to only about 12\u201320 inches in height.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The ferns that emerge from fiddleheads in the spring die back to the ground each fall. Fertile fronds, which are not present on all crowns, emerge green, turn brown as the season progresses, and can remain standing for a year after emerging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fiddleheads can be established by spores, but grow more quickly from underground stems called rhizomes. In a favorable site, ostrich ferns can spread to cover acres of ground. Ostrich ferns grow primarily along stream and river floodplains in part shade, under the canopy of trees such as red and silver maples and brown ash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Ostrich fern identification<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important to properly identify ostrich ferns. Bracken ferns, for example, have been shown to cause cancer in rats under laboratory conditions<sup>1<\/sup>&nbsp;and can cause other problems in livestock. Not enough is known about other ferns to recommend eating them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are three ways to identify ostrich fern fiddleheads in the spring:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There is a deep, \u201dU\u201d-shaped groove on the inside of the smooth stem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There are thin, brown, paper-like scales covering the newly emerging fiddleheads. The scales fall off as the fiddlehead grows and elongates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The fertile, spore-bearing frond is distinctive in shape, and also has a groove on the inside of the stem. When present during harvest time, the previous year\u2019s fertile frond will be dark brown in color. Not all ostrich fern crowns will have fertile fronds.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>In contrast, bracken fern fiddleheads are fuzzy, lack the brown paper-like covering and do not have a U-shaped groove on the inside of the stem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Later in the season, fully grown ostrich ferns have other identifying features. With the help of a field guide, you can then identify ostrich ferns for a future harvest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Identifying Ostrich Fern Fiddleheads<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-025.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-id=\"10429\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-025.jpg\" alt=\"fiddleheads\" class=\"wp-image-10429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-025.jpg 640w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-025-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-025-105x79.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-025-317x238.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-025-423x317.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-025-634x476.jpg 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-025-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,640px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Look for a deep, \u201cU\u201d-shaped groove on the inside of the fiddlehead stem, as well as brown, papery scales covering newly emerging fiddleheads. Photo by David Fuller. (Click on the image to enlarge.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2019\/06\/fiddleheads-041-640.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-id=\"20384\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2019\/06\/fiddleheads-041-640.jpg\" alt=\"fiddlehead fronds gone to seed\" class=\"wp-image-20384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2019\/06\/fiddleheads-041-640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2019\/06\/fiddleheads-041-640-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2019\/06\/fiddleheads-041-640-105x79.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2019\/06\/fiddleheads-041-640-317x238.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2019\/06\/fiddleheads-041-640-423x317.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2019\/06\/fiddleheads-041-640-634x476.jpg 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2019\/06\/fiddleheads-041-640-500x375.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,640px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The previous year\u2019s dark brown, spore-bearing fronds will have a distinctive shape resembling a feather and a groove on the inside of each stem. Photo by David Fuller. (Click on the image to enlarge.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/cKx00sIo_GA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"button\">VIDEO: Identifying and Harvesting Fiddleheads (YouTube) <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=JpxNlA3zyvw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"button\">Cooking and Preserving Fiddleheads (YouTube video)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The fiddlehead season<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Fiddleheads emerge in the spring, starting in late April in southern Maine, and appearing in mid to late May in far northern Maine. They grow rapidly, up to several inches a day under optimum conditions, so the season in a given location is quite short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sustainable harvest guidelines<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before harvesting fiddleheads, make sure that you have the permission of the landowner. If you are not sure who owns the property, check with the town office where the property is located to get the owner\u2019s name. Consider offering to pay the landowner an agreed-upon price per pound for the fiddleheads you pick, or some cleaned fiddleheads in exchange for the privilege of picking. Picking without owner permission has led to land being closed to the harvesting of fiddleheads. Compensating the owner, on the other hand, helps to reinforce the value of the fiddlehead resource, and acknowledges the property taxes paid by the landowner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fiddleheads are harvested in the spring as they emerge from the fern crown. They are best harvested at about two to six inches tall when a portion of the tasty stem can be harvested, but while the fiddlehead is still tightly curled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fiddleheads should only be harvested from healthy crowns that can sustain picking. Such crowns will have at least four fiddleheads, rather than one or two. The presence of only one or two fiddleheads in a crown indicates low fern vigor or a newly established fern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Harvest fiddleheads by snapping them off by hand or cutting them off with a knife. When cutting fiddleheads, take care not to damage the remaining fiddleheads. The fiddleheads that remain to grow into fern fronds will be making food for the next year\u2019s picking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Research conducted by the University of Maine suggests that picking all of the emerged fiddleheads on a crown every year over a series of years results in the decline and often death of the fern.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The four-year harvest study compared the effects of harvesting fiddleheads from three groups of ostrich ferns. One group had all of the emerged fiddleheads in each crown removed, the second group had one-half of the emerged fiddleheads removed, and the control group had no fiddleheads removed. The control group and the half-harvested ferns were able to keep producing nearly the same amounts of fiddleheads in subsequent years, while the all-harvested crowns produced very few or no fiddleheads after four years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Picking no more than one-half of the emerged fiddleheads from each crown, with no follow-up harvest of later-emerging fiddleheads in the same season, appears to be sustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Safe fiddlehead handling tips<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When picking fiddleheads, make sure to harvest them into clean containers. Use potable water when cleaning the fiddleheads, not water from streams or rivers. Refrigerate your harvest as soon as possible to maintain freshness. For more information on cooking fiddleheads, please refer to UMaine Extension\u2019s fact sheet, <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4198e\/\">Bulletin #4198, Facts on Fiddleheads<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Market considerations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fresh fiddleheads can be marketed in many ways, including farmers markets, restaurants, roadside stands, supermarkets, and shipping by mail. Better prices can be charged for fiddleheads that have been cleaned to remove their papery coverings. Consider including cooking directions when marketing directly to the consumer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The papery covering on fiddleheads is most easily removed when dry. Small amounts of fiddleheads can be cleaned by rubbing the covering loose. Larger amounts can be rubbed, then winnowed in front of a fan outdoors, which helps blow the papery covering off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote><h4><strong>The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has investigated a number of outbreaks of food-borne illness associated with fiddleheads. The implicated ferns were eaten either raw or lightly cooked (saut\u00e9ed, parboiled, or microwaved), which was what caused a food-borne illness outbreak in British Columbia in 1990. Although a toxin has not been identified in the fiddleheads of the ostrich fern, the findings of this investigation suggest that you should cook fiddleheads thoroughly before eating (boil them for at least 15 minutes).<\/strong><\/h4><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>*For more information on the fiddlehead harvest research project, see&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nacaa.com\/journal\/4f73fb58-37b7-4722-8d95-3989d393670f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=https:\/\/www.nacaa.com\/journal\/index.php?jid%3D772&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1620319092050000&amp;usg=AFQjCNH3R2N2uOcIQUuy7on2JAIvPA7NPQ\">Journal of the NACAA: Effects of Long-Term Fiddlehead Harvest on Ostrich Fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><sup>1<\/sup> P.M. Newberne, \u201cBiologic Effects of Plant Toxins and Aflatoxins in Rats,\u201d <em>Journal of the National Cancer Institute<\/em> 56, no. 3 (1976): 551\u20135.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Reviewed by Dave Wilsey, Assistant Extension Professor, University of Minnesota Extension; and Julie A. Miedtke, Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Information in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a9 2012, 2019, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Call 800.287.0274 (in Maine), or 207.581.3188, for information on publications and program offerings from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, or visit <a href=\"http:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\">extension.umaine.edu<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The University of Maine System (the System) is an equal opportunity institution committed to fostering a nondiscriminatory environment and complying with all applicable nondiscrimination laws. Consistent with State and Federal law, the System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability (physical or mental), genetic information, pregnancy, or veteran or military status in any aspect of its education, programs and activities, and employment. The System provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. If you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment, you are encouraged to contact the System Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services at 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, Orono, ME 04469-5713, by calling 207.581.1226, or via TTY at 711 (Maine Relay System). For more information about Title IX or to file a complaint, please contact the UMS Title IX Coordinator at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.edu\/title-ix\/\">www.maine.edu\/title-ix\/<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By David Fuller, Extension Agriculture, and Non-Timber Forest Products Professional For information about UMaine Extension programs and resources, visit extension.umaine.edu.Find more of our publications and books at extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/. Part of Maine\u2019s heritage Fiddleheads from ostrich ferns are an iconic spring edible in Maine. Native Americans were the first to eat them, and their popularity continues [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":267,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10421","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Bulletin #2540, Ostrich Fern Fiddleheads, Matteuccia struthiopteris - Cooperative Extension Publications - University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Fiddleheads from ostrich ferns are an iconic spring edible in Maine. 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Fiddleheads are so named because of the similarity in shape to the curled scroll of a violin.","og_url":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2540e\/","og_site_name":"Cooperative Extension Publications","article_modified_time":"2024-05-23T13:59:57+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076-300x225.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2540e\/","url":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2540e\/","name":"Bulletin #2540, Ostrich Fern Fiddleheads, Matteuccia struthiopteris - Cooperative Extension Publications - University of Maine Cooperative Extension","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2540e\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2540e\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076-300x225.jpg","datePublished":"2012-03-05T16:03:42+00:00","dateModified":"2024-05-23T13:59:57+00:00","description":"Fiddleheads from ostrich ferns are an iconic spring edible in Maine. Native Americans were the first to eat them, and their popularity continues to this day. Fiddleheads are so named because of the similarity in shape to the curled scroll of a violin.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2540e\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2540e\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2540e\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2012\/03\/fiddleheads-076.jpg","width":1632,"height":1224,"caption":"Ostrich ferns can be found in shady areas near streams and rivers."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2540e\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Bulletin #2540, Ostrich Fern Fiddleheads, Matteuccia struthiopteris"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/#website","url":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/","name":"Cooperative Extension Publications","description":"Information you can use. 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