Asplenium nidus
L.
Aspleniaceae
Asplenium curtisorum Christ
Asplenium ellipticum (Fée) Copel.
Asplenium ficifolium Goldm.
Neottopteris elliptica Fée
Neottopteris nidus (L.) J.Sm.
Neottopteris ovata J.Sm. ex Fée
Neottopteris stenocarpa Fée
Neottopteris vulgaris J.Sm.
Polypodium giganteum Noronha
Thamnopteris nidus (L.) C.Presl
Common Name: Bird's Nest Fern
Growing on the trunk of a tree in Forest in Sumatra
Photograph by: Vojt?ch Zavadil
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Growing on the trunk of a tree in Forest in Sumatra
Photograph by: Vojt?ch Zavadil
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Growing on a palm trunk in a botanical garden.
Photograph by: KENPEI
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Growing in open ground
in the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, Buffalo, New York, USA
Photograph by: Daderot
Public domain
Looking into the centre of the plant
Photograph by: Dinkum
Creative Commons Zero, Public Domain Dedication
Spores are produced on the lower surfaces of leaves
Photograph by: KENPEI
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Young plant growing on a tree trunk in Malaysia
Photograph by: Tu7uh
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
General Information
Asplenium nidus is an evergreen, epiphytic fern with a short rhizome and large leaves that can be 150cm long and 20cm wide[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is commonly grown as an ornamental in the tropics and is used as a decoration for wedding fiestas and the religious rituals in Guam known as Novena[
354- Title
- Plants of Guam
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moore P.H. & McMakin P.
- Website
- http://university.uog.edu/cals/people/POG/scipn.htm
- Publisher
- University of Guam.
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details, usually with a photo, of plants native to the island of Guam, often together with some information on their uses. An online version is available.
].
Known Hazards
Although we have found no reports of toxicity for this species, a number of ferns contain carcinogens so some caution is advisable[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Many ferns also contain thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase[
172- Title
- Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Schofield. J. J.
- Publisher
- Alaska Northwest Books; Alaska
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 0882403699
- Description
- A nice guide to some useful plants in that area.
].
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
610- Title
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beentje H.J.
- Website
- http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa.
Range
East tropical Africa, through tropical Asia to northern Australia and the Pacific Islands.
Habitat
An epiphytic plant, sometimes growing on rocks, at elevations from sea level to 1,200 metres[
610- Title
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beentje H.J.
- Website
- http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Fern |
| Height | 1.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of moist areas in the tropics.
Requires a shady position and humid conditions[
423- Title
- Desert Tropicals
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
The plant transplants easily, even when quite large[
354- Title
- Plants of Guam
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moore P.H. & McMakin P.
- Website
- http://university.uog.edu/cals/people/POG/scipn.htm
- Publisher
- University of Guam.
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details, usually with a photo, of plants native to the island of Guam, often together with some information on their uses. An online version is available.
].
Edible Uses
Leaves - parboiled and eaten[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Ash from the burnt leaves can be used as a salt substitute[
300- Title
- Vegetables in the Tropics
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tindall. H. D.
- Publisher
- MacMillan, Oxford.
- Year
- 1983
- ISBN
- 0-333-24268-8
- Description
- An excellent, in-depth look at the main vegetable crops that can be grown in the Tropics, plus many less well-known plants.
].
Medicinal
The leaves are said to be contraceptive, depurative and sedative[
360- Title
- Philippine Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
]. It is used in the treatment of chest pains[
360- Title
- Philippine Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].
It is used externally for the treatment of stings and bites[
360- Title
- Philippine Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].
The leaves and root of this fern are often used as ingredients in local medicinal preparations in Guam[
354- Title
- Plants of Guam
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moore P.H. & McMakin P.
- Website
- http://university.uog.edu/cals/people/POG/scipn.htm
- Publisher
- University of Guam.
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief details, usually with a photo, of plants native to the island of Guam, often together with some information on their uses. An online version is available.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
Division.
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
