12 September 2010

ASPLENIUM AUSTRALASICUM

We have seen so many Bird's Nest Fern (Family: Aspleniaceae) on trees or planted in our landscapes. And we often refer to them as Asplenium nidus.

However, we got it all wrong. The common fern that we knew for so long was in fact Asplenium australasicum. All it took was for an overseas visitor to tell and show us the difference. The common fern that we have in our landscape has a raised midrib on the underside of its fronds. It is just as simple as that.