Asplenim nidus

Quick Overview

Asplenium nidus is an epiphytic species of fern in the family Aspleniaceae, native to tropical southeastern Asia, eastern Australia, Hawaii (ʻēkaha in Hawaiian),Polynesia, Christmas Island,India, and eastern Africa. It is known by the common names bird’s-nest fern[1][8] (a name shared by some other aspleniums) or simply nest fern.Bird’s nest ferns have a slow growth rate and grow more slowly and remain smaller when kept indoors versus outdoors.

Description

Asplenium nidus forms large simple fronds visually similar to banana leaves, with the fronds growing long and broad, with occasional individuals up to (two meters) in length by up to two feet width.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 tree.