Bird Nest Fern

Asplenium nidus is an epiphytic fern of the Aspleniaceae family native to tropical southeastern Asia, eastern Australia, Hawaii (Kaha in Hawaiian), Polynesia, Christmas Island, India, and East Africa. It is also known as bird’s nest fern (a name shared by a few other Asplenium) or nest fern.

Asplenium nidus has giant simple fronds that look like banana leaves and can grow 50–150 centimetres (20–59 in) long and 10–20 centimetres (3.9–7.9 in) wide. They are bright green, crinkled, and have a black midrib. They also have circinate vernation. In sori, spores develop on the underside of the fronds. These sori create long rows that stretch out from the midrib on the rear of the lamina’s outer portion (frond). As the fronds darken, they fold back and form a multiple leaf nest in the branches and trunks of trees.

Asplenium nidus is frequently cultivated as a houseplant in temperate climates, requiring a minimum temperature of 10 °C (50 °F).