Plant · GBIF taxon 2650676
Asplenium nidus
asplenium nidusAlso known as Nest Fern, Crow's Nest Fern
These striking epiphytic ferns grow in magnificent, bowl-shaped rosettes high in the tropical canopy, mimicking a bird's nest to trap falling leaves and rainwater. The glossy, apple-green fronds can reach up to 1.5 meters in length, unfurling from a central crown covered in dark, spongy scales. In their native rainforests, they create vital microhabitats for canopy-dwelling insects, tree frogs, and small reptiles.
EpiphyticTropicalEvergreen
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthetic (absorbs water and nutrients from debris collected in its rosette)
Predators
- Slugs
- Snails
- Caterpillars
ThreatsHabitat destruction, over-collection for the horticultural trade
HabitatsTropical rainforests, humid woodlands, growing on tree trunks or rocks
Life spanSeveral decades (often 20 to 50 years in optimal conditions)
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 and handle at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observe the center: Look closely at the bowl-like rosette where organic debris accumulates to feed the plant.
- Check the undersides: Examine the mature outer fronds for parallel brown stripes of spore-producing sori.
- Avoid touching new fronds: Refrain from handling the delicate, tightly coiled fiddleheads emerging from the center.
Frequent Companion (c) Leon Perrie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Leon Perrie · cc-by
Close Relative 
Close Relative Jonathan Billinger / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
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