See bird's-nest fern for other plants with this common name.

Asplenium nidus in Malaysia

A seedling of Asplenium nidus growing on a tree trunk

Asplenium nidus is an epiphytic species of fern in the family Aspleniaceae, native to tropical southeastern Asia, eastern Australia, Hawaii,^{[citation needed]} Polynesia,^{[citation needed]} Christmas Island,^{[citation needed]} India,^{[citation needed]} and eastern Africa. It is known by the common names bird's-nest fern^[1][3] (a name shared by other Aspleniums) or simply nest fern.^[3]

Description

Asplenium nidus forms large simple fronds visually similar to banana leaves, with the fronds growing to 50-150 cm long and 10-20 cm broad. They are light green, often crinkled, with a black midrib, and exhibit circinate vernation. Spores develop in sori on the underside of the fronds. These sori form long rows extending out from the midrib on the back of the outer part of the lamina (frond). The fronds roll back as they brown and create a massive leaf nest in the branches and trunks of trees.

Native distribution

Asplenium nidus is native to east tropical Africa (in Tanzania, inclusive of the Zanzibar Archipelago); temperate and tropical Asia (in Indonesia; the prefecture of Kyushu, and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan; Malaysia; the Philippines; Taiwan; and Thailand); and in Australasia (in the northern part of the state of Queensland in Australia)^[3]

Habitat

Asplenium nidus can survive either as an epiphytal, or terrestrial plant, but typically grows on organic matter. This fern often lives in palm trees or bromeliads, where it collects water and humus in its leaf-rosette.^{[citation needed]} It thrives in warm, humid areas in partial to full shade.

Uses

Plants named Asplenium nidus are commonly sold as house plants, though most of the specimens in the horticultural trade are not A. nidus, but different, but closely related species (R. J. Johns, in the 2001 Flora Malesiana Symposium). Apparently, most plants sold in America as A. nidus are actually Asplenium australasicum. But A. australasicum differs from A. nidus by having longer sori, and a differently shaped midrib.

Asplenium nidus has been used locally in folk medicine (to treat asthma, sores and weakness) and hygienically to treat halitosis.^[4]

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[5]

The sprouts of A. nidus are eaten as a vegetable in Taiwan.^{[citation needed]} In Taiwan this plant is called 山蘇 (pronounced shān sũ) and typically cut into inch length pieces and fried with garlic and chilli peppers.

Protection

In Hong Kong, this species is under protection based on Forestry Regulations Cap. 96A.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Asplenium nidus

References

• (Portuguese) LORENZI, H.; SOUZA, M.S. (2001) Plantas Ornamentais no Brasil: arbustivas, herbáceas e trepadeiras. Plantarum ISBN 85-86714-12-7