In a funnel forest of maolan national nature reserve, there is a kind of primitive Asplenium named Asplenium nidus living, it has high value for appreciation and provides certain environment for other plants. Nia reports.

    In funnel forest of Maolan, there occurs a kind of plant named Asplenium nidus, which is also known as Birds-nest fern. Scientific worker even called the local birds-nest fern as the fairy of forest.

    This kind of fern, according to scientist, is native to Tropical Asia. It is a spectacular, epiphytic fern which grows in a rosette shape with all of the fronds growing from a central area and it usually occur in tropical, subtropical rain forests with high moist. It can be measured up 60-120cm, and the fronds are undivided and sword-shaped; they can be 2 to 4 feet long and 3 to 8 inches wide. They are light green with a dark brown or black midrib. Since the shape of this kind of plant makes it possible to hold bird’s soil, leaves and rain, as time goes by these substances can turn to be saprophytic substances which are good for Asplenium nidus’ own nutrition. Moreover, Asplenium nidus can as well support other plants’ living environment such as lichen, orchid and fern’s plants. Namely, Asplenium nidus and other plants grow upon each other, creating a peaceful and favorable ecological environment, bringing harmony to the forests of Maolan.

    Thanks to well-preserved ecological environment and human’s efforts in protection, Birds-nest fersn are able to grow with an increasing habitant in Maolan national nature reserve.

Meishan Zhou (Nia)