Asplenium aethiopicum, commonly known as Shredded Spleenwort, is a native Western Australian fern. It is a hardy, but attractive fern species and the common name "spleenwort" refers to the old belief that the plant could help cure ailments of the spleen. Asplenium is a popular group of ferns prized for their frond symmetry, frond texture and sheen and neat growth habit. Asplenium aethiopicum generally cultivates well and is sold in many countries (Jones, 1987).
Not Threatened. Risk code: 3RC- : has a geographic range greater than 100km, rare but doesn’t have an identifiable threat, has a least one population within a nature reserve, but the size of the reserve population is not accurately known (Briggs & Leigh, 1995)
Asplenium aethiopicum is a terrestrial or epiphytic species of fern. It is most commonly found growing on rocks or even other plants; however it is not a parasitic species but rather uses these substrates for mechanical support. This species is perennial and grows between 20 and 50cm tall with a short-creeping and scaly rhizome. Fronds are semi- erect or overhanging and can grow up to 35cm in length and range between 2 and 12cm wide. The stipe and rachis (the main stem /stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem) are almost black at the base, becoming green towards the apex and are shiny and abundantly scaly. The blade of the frond is divided into leaflets and is elliptical or oval in shape. The primary leaflets (pinnae) are oval in shape and taper gradually to a sharp point. The secondary pinnae can vary in shape from wedge shaped to linear or egg shaped with either a sharp pointed or blunt tip. The secondary pinnae are generally deeply incised and lack a stalk. Asplenium aethiopicum, like all ferns, reproduces via spores and has clusters of spore producing structures known as sori located on the underside of fertile fronds. The sori in Asplenium aethiopicum are approximately 8mm long and are protected by a thin membrane called the indusium.
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