Ampelopteris prolifera, widely known as Dhekia Shak in eastern India and Bangladesh, is a semi-aquatic fern of exceptional ecological and cultural importance. Traditionally consumed as a leafy vegetable and deeply embedded in regional ethnobotanical practices, this fern occupies wetlands, marshy fields, and riverine floodplains across South and Southeast Asia. Beyond its culinary relevance, Ampelopteris prolifera plays a significant role in wetland ecology by stabilizing soil, retaining moisture, and supporting microfaunal diversity.
This article presents an in-depth, research-oriented exploration of Ampelopteris prolifera, focusing on its taxonomy, morphology, habitat preferences, distribution patterns, ecological functions, and conservation considerations, with particular reference to the Sundarbans mangrove-deltaic landscape.
Taxonomy & Classification
belongs to the fern lineage within the vascular plant group Pteridophyta. Its classification reflects its evolutionary adaptations to wet, periodically inundated habitats.
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Polypodiophyta (Pteridophyta)
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Family: Thelypteridaceae
Genus: Ampelopteris
Species:Ampelopteris prolifera
The genus Ampelopteris is distinguished by its creeping rhizomes, pinnate fronds, and adaptive reproductive strategies that allow survival in fluctuating hydrological conditions.
Morphology & Field Identification
Vegetative Structure
is a medium-sized, robust fern characterized by elongated fronds that can reach 60–120 cm in length. The plant emerges from a creeping, horizontally spreading rhizome that anchors firmly into soft, waterlogged soils.
The stipe (leaf stalk) is smooth, green to pale brown, and transitions seamlessly into a bipinnate lamina. Fronds exhibit a graceful arching habit, often forming dense clumps in suitable habitats.
Leaf Characteristics
The pinnae are lanceolate with finely serrated margins. The leaf surface is smooth, tender, and bright green when young, becoming slightly darker and firmer with maturity. New fronds often display a coiled vernation (fiddlehead stage), which is the edible phase traditionally harvested for consumption.
Reproductive Features
Reproduction occurs primarily through spores, which are borne in sori arranged along the veins on the underside of fertile fronds. The sori lack conspicuous indusia, a characteristic feature aiding taxonomic identification. Vegetative propagation through rhizome fragmentation also contributes significantly to population expansion.
Habitat & Distribution
Global Range
is distributed widely across tropical and subtropical Asia. Its native range includes India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, southern China, and parts of Indonesia.
The species thrives particularly well in monsoon-influenced regions where seasonal flooding and high humidity create favorable growth conditions.
Preferred Habitat
This fern exhibits a strong preference for wetlands, marshes, rice paddies, pond margins, irrigation canals, and low-lying floodplains. It is frequently found in areas with standing or slow-moving freshwater and soft alluvial soils rich in organic matter.
Partial sunlight to diffused shade supports optimal growth, although the plant demonstrates remarkable adaptability to varying light intensities.
Occurrence
shows seasonal abundance patterns closely linked to rainfall and hydrological cycles. In eastern India and Bangladesh, it becomes particularly abundant during the monsoon and post-monsoon months, when wetlands remain saturated.
During drier periods, the above-ground fronds may senesce, while the rhizome remains viable below the soil surface, enabling rapid regeneration with the return of moisture.
Preferred Habitat in the Sundarbans Region
Within the Sundarbans biosphere, Ampelopteris prolifera is commonly encountered along freshwater channels, village ponds, embankment slopes, and transitional zones between agricultural land and mangrove forests.
Although the Sundarbans is predominantly a saline mangrove ecosystem, freshwater pockets created by rain-fed ponds and upstream river inflows provide suitable microhabitats for this fern. Here, it contributes to the vegetation mosaic that supports both human livelihoods and ecological resilience.
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Ecological Role
serves as an important ecological stabilizer in wetland ecosystems. Its dense root and rhizome network binds soil particles, reducing erosion along pond edges and embankments.
The fern also enhances microhabitat complexity by providing shelter for amphibians, aquatic insects, mollusks, and microbial communities. Decaying fronds contribute organic matter, enriching nutrient cycles and supporting detritivore populations.
Habitat Alteration
Anthropogenic Pressures
Rapid wetland conversion for agriculture, urban expansion, aquaculture, and infrastructure development poses significant threats to natural populations of Ampelopteris prolifera. Drainage of marshlands and excessive use of agrochemicals reduce habitat quality and disrupt reproductive cycles.
Climate Variability
Altered rainfall patterns, increasing salinity intrusion, and prolonged droughts linked to climate change further challenge the species’ survival, particularly in deltaic regions such as the Sundarbans.
Conservation Efforts
While Ampelopteris prolifera is not currently listed as threatened at a global scale, localized conservation measures are essential to maintain healthy populations. Protection of freshwater wetlands, promotion of sustainable harvesting practices, and integration of traditional ecological knowledge are key strategies.
In community-managed landscapes, encouraging the cultivation of Dhekia Shak in controlled wetland plots can reduce pressure on wild populations while supporting local food security.
Planning a guided mangrove adventure? Explore our Sundarban Tour Packages and choose the best itinerary for your dates.
Did You Know?
Dhekia Shak is traditionally harvested at the fiddlehead stage, when fronds are most tender.
The fern regenerates rapidly after cutting, making it a sustainable wild vegetable when harvested responsibly.
It has long been associated with monsoon cuisine in Assam, Bengal, and coastal eastern India.
Its presence often indicates healthy freshwater wetland conditions.
