Ostrich Ferns are common throughout Northern North America -- found in wet areas such as riverbanks and lakeshores. Ostrich Ferns tend to grow from a crown and the fiddlehead is smooth with a characteristic crinkly brown scale.
Ostrich Ferns have two different types of fronds -- that are said to resemble ostrich feathers. The first is the green "non-fertile" frond. It dies back at the end of the fall. The second is the "fertile" frond that produces the spores. It persists over the winter (Next photo).
Ostrich Fern fiddleheads are edible, but should be boiled or steamed before being used to remove a toxin that may cause a reaction in susceptible individuals. (Not all fiddleheads are edible and many contain toxins and/or carcinogens. Thus, like all wild edibles, do not consume anything that has not been positively identified and prepared correctly.)
Over-harvesting of Ostrich Fern fiddleheads is becoming problematic. In some areas, harvesting fiddleheads is either restricted or forbidden.
