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Asplenium longissimum Blume

Family Name:	Aspleniaceae
Synonyms:	Asplenium longicauda
Common Name:	Spleenwort

Asplenium longissimum or Spleenwort is a fern that grows terrestrially or as an epiphyte. Fronds are long and drooping, up to 1 m long or more. Each leaflet is lance to broadly lance-shaped, long tapered tip, boxy to wedge-shaped base with ear-like lobes. The stalk is purple to brown coloured, up to 20 cm long. The species epithet, longissimum is used to describe the species characteristics of having very long fronds.

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Ferns and Lycophytes

Herbaceous Plant

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Ferns & Lycophytes (Non-Seed Vascular Plants) (Fern)
Plant Growth Form	Herbaceous Plant
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Weeping / Pendulous

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Southeast Asia
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a fern that is found as a terrestrial or epiphytic plant. It produces short rhizome measuring about 5 mm wide, densely scaly.
Foliage	Its drooping long fronds measures up to 1 m long or more. Small plantlets (bulbils) are produced on the stalk near the tip of the frond. Each leaflet (pinnae) is lance to broadly lance shaped with a long tapered tip and toothed margins. Two rows of ridges are found along the top surface of the midrib. The base is boxy, wedge-shaped to round with irregular ear-like lobes on both sides, black forked scales are found on the underside of the leaflet. The stalk (stipe) is purple to brown coloured, densely covered in dense scales measuring up to 20 cm long. Scales are flat, lattice-like, packed tightly together.
Others - Plant Morphology	Sori are produced on both sides along the midrib, starting from the midrib towards the margin. They are long, linear to slightly curved

Habitat	Occur on dry ground along the path in light shade at about 200 m altitude
Etymology	Its genus Asplenium, means without spleen and is usually a reference for the fern to cure spleen ailments. The species epithet longissimum, refers to the fern's character of having very long fronds.

Landscaping Features

Landscape Uses	Small Gardens, Container Planting

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Semi-Shade
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate to Slow

Rootzone Tolerance	Moist Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method	Spore

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Foliar Type	Compound

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Serrate / Toothed
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate
Foliar Base	Cuneate, Truncate / Square, Rounded / Obtuse

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Non Woody
Root Type	Underground (Fibrous Root)
Specialised Storage Organ(s)	Underground (Rhizome)

References

References	Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (continuously updated). Plants of the World Online \| Kew Science. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17046410-1. Accessed 13 July 2022. Tagawa, M. & Iwatsuki, K. (1985). Pteridophytes. Flora of Thailand, 3(2), pp. 281-282. Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	244
Species ID	1540
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.