Tropical Plant Database - Plant Details

Asplenium nidus is rosette shaped fern with all of the fronds growing from a central area. The fronds are undivided and sword-shaped. They can be 60 to 120 cm long and 7 to 20 cm wide. They are light green with a dark brown or black midrib. The spores cases are arranged in lines along the veins of the fronds. (Bornhorst, Heidi L. 1996. Growing Native Hawaiian Plants.) (Valier, Kathy. 1995. Ferns of Hawai'i.)

In Hawai`i, the juice of `ekaha leaf shoots was mixed with other plants to treat general weakness and mouth sores in children. (Akana, A. 1922. Hawaiian Herbs of Medicinal Value)

Asplenium nidus is a common fern found in wet lowand tropical forests of Africa, Asia and many Pacific Islands. Its large leaves are used as decoration and for several medicinal treatments.

Asplenium nidus is indigenous to Hawaii, other parts of Polynesia, and to areas as far west as Africa. These ferns grow either terrestrially (on the ground) or epiphytically (on trees or rocks). In Hawaii, they are found at elevations up to 760 meters. (Valier, Kathy. 1995. Ferns of Hawai'i.)

In old Hawai`i the leaves of `ekaha adorned hula altars and were used in canoe tree cutting ceremonies. The black midrib was used to decorate pandanus (lauhala) mats. (Emerson, N. B. 1909. Unwritten Literature of Hawaii; the Sacred Songs of the Hula) (Bornhorst, H. L. 1996. Growing Native Hawaiian Plants)

We currently have 63 herbarium specimens for Asplenium nidus in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.

• 000250 - collected by Takashi Tannowa in 1973
• 090950 - collected by Art Whistler in 1975
• 090951 - collected by Art Whistler in 1981
• 003821 - collected by F. R. Fosberg in 1982
• 004030 - collected by F. R. Fosberg in 1982
• 038685 - collected by Art Whistler in 1985
• 000241 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1986
• 000246 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
• 000247 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
• 000248 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
• 000249 - collected by David H. Lorence in 1987
• 000244 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1987
• 000243 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1987
• 000245 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1987
• 000242 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1988
• 090949 - collected by Art Whistler in 1990
• 012883 - collected by Kenneth A. Wilson in 1991
• 090955 - collected by Art Whistler in 1992
• 090953 - collected by Art Whistler in 1993
• 090952 - collected by Art Whistler in 1993
• 023676 - collected by Art Whistler in 1995
• 007658 - collected by Art Whistler in 1995
• 018200 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1995
• 090956 - collected by Art Whistler in 1996
• 024273 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1996
• 055945 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1996
• 033542 - collected by Michael J. Balick in 1997
• 033552 - collected by Michael J. Balick in 1997
• 035775 - collected by Michael J. Balick in 1999
• 038738 - collected by Michael J. Balick in 2000
• 034764 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2001
• 035346 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2001
• 035320 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2001
• 041878 - collected by E. Albert in 2001
• 051523 - collected by Stephanie Dunbar in 2002
• 044393 - collected by Michael J. Balick in 2002
• 046219 - collected by A. Dores in 2002
• 087662 - collected by B. Ekiek in 2002
• 087652 - collected by A. Dores in 2003
• 043475 - collected by Francisca Sohl in 2004
• 059989 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2004
• 045000 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2005
• 052300 - collected by Michael J. Balick in 2007
• 049597 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2008
• 054002 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2008
• 054001 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2008
• 094990 - collected by D. C. Daly in 2009
• 060441 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
• 060442 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2012
• 090954 - collected by Art Whistler in 2012
• 092292 - collected by Gregory M. Plunkett in 2013
• 081723 - collected by Natalia Tangalin in 2014
• 077677 - collected by K. R. Wood in 2016
• 080844 - collected by John Game in 2017
• 092227 - collected by Tom A. Ranker in 2017
• 079805 - collected by Kalli Harshman in 2018
• 088034 - collected by David H. Lorence in 2022
• Unassigned - collected by Susan Fawcett in 2024
• Unassigned - collected by Susan Fawcett in 2024
• Unassigned - collected by Susan Fawcett in 2024
• 095629 - collected by Miles K. Thomas in 2024
• Unassigned - collected by KPEPP in 2025
• Unassigned - collected by KPEPP in 2025