Plant · GBIF taxon 2650676
Bird's Nest Fern
Asplenium nidusAlso known as Nest Fern, Crow's Nest Fern
Bird's-nest ferns grow high in forest canopies as epiphytes, anchoring to tree crotches where their rosette of glossy fronds traps falling leaves and rainwater. This bowl-shaped debris trap decomposes into a rich organic sponge, nourishing the fern and supporting whole micro-ecosystems of insects and amphibians high above the forest floor. Popular in cultivation worldwide, wild plants rely on mature tropical trees to provide the structural support and humid shade they need to thrive.
EpiphyteTropicalEvergreen
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Slugs
- Snails
- Caterpillars
ThreatsDeforestation, loss of old-growth host trees, wild harvesting
HabitatsTropical rainforests, humid cloud forests, epiphytic on tree trunks and branches
Life span10–50+ years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPolypodiales
- FamilyAspleniaceae
- GenusAsplenium
- SpeciesAsplenium nidus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Wild Spotting: Look up into canopy crotches in humid rainforests to find wild nest ferns perched on large host trees.
- Indoor Care: Keep in bright, indirect light and maintain high ambient humidity to prevent frond tips from browning.
Look-Alike (c) Steve Fitzgerald, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Steve Fitzgerald · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Travisthurston / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Jonathan Billinger / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
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