Sword Fern
Hul’q’umi’num: s-thxelum
SENĆOŦEN: SŦXȺLEM¸
Diitiidʔaaʔtx̣: iʔicmakt
Latin: Polystichum munitum
Photo Credits: Kendall McLaughlin
Description: A large evergreen fern growing up to 1.5 metres tall, featuring once-pinnate leaves with alternating, pointed, sharp-toothed leaflets. Each leaflet has a small, forward-pointing lobe at its base, creating a shape reminiscent of a sword’s hilt. The undersides of the leaves feature distinctive large, orange spore clusters.
Harvest and Sustainability: Abundantly found in moist forests. Can be harvested in spring or fall depending on uses.
Uses: Sword fern was used as a protective lining in pit ovens, between stored food items in boxes and baskets, on berry-drying racks, and as material for flooring and bedding.
In spring, the large rhizomes were dug up as a critical survival food—roasted over an open fire or steamed in pit ovens before being peeled and eaten—and were also consumed to treat diarrhea.
Cooked fall and spring fiddleheads were eaten or rubbed onto the scalp to promote hair growth.
Additionally, the fronds were used in a children’s game called pala-pala, where players competed to pluck the most leaflets from a single frond on one breath while repeating the word pala.
