Edible: Leaves, Fronds
An evergreen fern. It grows to 1.5 m high and spreads 3 m across. It can grow by feeding on other plants. It forms nest like bowls on the upper side of branches. The underground thickened horizontal stem is dark brown and short. It is covered with blackish scales. The roots are hairy. The fronds grow out from a central point so that the fern forms rounded tussocks. The fronds are simple and entire and sword shape. The fronds can be 2 m long and up to 20 cm wide. They are dark or yellowish green. They have a raised, bluntly rounded mid vein.
It is a tropical plant. It grows in well drained moist soils. It prefers a well protected partly shaded position but not heavy shade. It is drought and frost tender. It occurs on many atolls. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. In Brisbane Botanical Garden as Asplenium antiquum.
Common Names: Bird’s Nest Fern, Crows Nest fern, Beluve, Chath, Daun semum, Dovidovitaneia, Ekaha, Galak, Gnezdnati sršaj, Kadaka, Kardoap, Karedep, Kartop, Kukulufi, Lau gadaha, Laugapapa, Laukatafa, Laukatapa, Laulu, Lau mea, Luku, Mihlihklihk, Nnuk, Pakis sarang burung, Paku langsuyarm, Paku pandan, Paku sarang burung, Rajang, Rumah langsuyar, Sehlik, Selimbur, Simbar merah, Tehnlik
Synonyms: Asplenium antiquum Makino;
Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook.;
Asplenium ficifolium Goldm.;
Neottopteris antigua (Makino) Masam.;
Neottopteris australasica J. Sm.;
Neottopteris mauritiana Fee;
Neottopteris musaefolia J. Sm.;
Neottopteris nidis (L.) J. Smith;
Neottopteris rigida Fee;
Thamnopteris nidus (L.) C. Prsel