Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges
Tropical North Queensland, Australia.
[ Site Map ] [
Rainforest Search Engine ]
Back ] Home ] Up ] Next ]



Bird's Nest Fern


 

Bird's Nest Fern: Asplenium australasicum

  • Like most tree ferns, the Bird's Nest is popular and pilfered.
  • It is also known as the Crow’s Nest Fern.
  • It grows in a great variety of sites in rainforests as an epiphyte on large trees or independently growing on the forest floor and rocks if good light is available.
  • It is found in Queensland, New South Wales to the south coast, and Asia. In southern Queensland and New South Wales the fern is generally larger than in northern Queensland, and there are suggestions that this smaller fern may be a different species.
  • It is well adapted to the sometimes harsh conditions of the rainforest and recovers quickly with the assistance of rain even though the leaves may look wilted, brown and beyond repair.
  • Reproduction is achieved through sporing. The sori are located at the midrib of the frond.
  • Fronds can reach two metres long and twenty centimetres wide, but, in North Queensland, fronds grow less than one metre long, thus suggesting the presence of an independent species.
  • The nest shaped radiating fronds catch dead leaves and other rainforest litter which is caught as the leaves bend outward with age.
  • The litter rots and forms a growing medium for the root system of the fern and other epiphytes.
  • The root system is small, considering the size of the fern, but it is dense and spongy and is covered with persistent brown root hairs.
  • It may be confused with Asplenium nidus.
  • Its genus contains about 650 species, 26 of them in Australia.
  • It is excellent for growing in a pot, tub or basket (due to its small root system), but is also suitable for culture in the ground. It dislikes being in full shade and wet soil and prefers filtered sunlight and a dry situation such as under eaves or large gums for example.
  • Particularly due to its tussock of radiating fronds, it is very popular in cultivation throughout the world.

Additional Information:

  • The 'Bird's Nest Fern', Asplenium nidus and/or Asplenium australasicum grow on both rocks and other plants.

  • They can grow quite large and are usually nicely shaped like a bucket to catch a rain and falling debris which decomposes and provides nutrients.

  • They can be seen everywhere in the rainforest and mangrove canopy at Mossman and Cape Tribulation.

    Script
    : Courtesy of  Damon Ramsey BSc.(Zool) Biologist Guide

Additional Birds Nest Fern Photos
Additional Birds Nest Fern Photo 2


Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges
Lake Eacham, Atherton Tablelands
Tropical North Queensland, Australia.
PH & Fax: 07 4095 3754 International: 61 7 4095 3754

http://www.rainforest-australia.com/accommodation


Book Online Now

A great Australian rainforest experience

Click Here To Send An Email

[Accommodation ]
[One Bedroom Lodge] [Five Bedroom Lodge] [Guest Lounge
[Directions] [Bookings] [Weather] [Search Engines]
[
Birdwatching Opportunities at The Chambers] [Bushwalking Opportunities at The Chambers]
[Rainforest Environment Surrounding The Chambers] [Nocturnal Animals at The Chambers]
[
Atherton Tableland Natural Attractions You Can See During Your Stay at The Chambers]
[Travel Information for Australia]
[ Tour Group Photos ]

All content, layout and design in this website
are protected by copyright 1998-2017 John Chambers.