Bird's Nest Fern

Common Name: Bird's Nest Fern
Scientific Name: Asplenium nidus
Family: Aspleniaceae

General facts:

• Its foliage grows in a funnel shape that looks like a bird's nest (hence its name), where it collects rainwater and nutrient-bearing dust from the air.
• It forms large simple fronds similar to banana leaves, where it develops its brown spore (known as coenosori) in straight lines.
• It can often be found growing on trees, where it collects water and humus in its leaf-rosette (nest).
• It can develop leaves up to 2 m long and 60 cm wide.
• It is commonly sold as house plants.
• It is used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera moth species.
• An ointment can be made from mixing its leaves with salt to cure body sores.