Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Todaro is a fern which occurs throughout the north temperate and sub-boreal zones of the northern hemisphere including all provinces and territories of Canada, the northern U.S., Japan, China, Siberia west to Scandinavia, Belgium, France and parts of the Alps. Its occurrence may be considered as an indicator of moist eutrophic soils where the water table is generally within 1.5 m of the soil surface. The young vegetative fronds or "'fiddleheads" that emerge in the spring have beena traditional part of the diet of the Malecite Indians of New Brunswick. These fiddleheads are an edible, nutritious vegetable that is considered to have potential as a cultivated crop.