Asplenium marinum - Sea Spleenwort - 15 Spore Pack - Exotic Fern - Flat Ship Rate - New

Asplenium is a genus of about 700 species of ferns, often treated as the only genus in the family Aspleniaceae. The most common vernacular name is spleenworts, applied to the more "typical" species A. nidus and several similar species are called bird's-nest ferns, the Camptosorus group is known as walking ferns, and distinct names are applied to some other particularly well-known species. Both the scientific name and the common name "spleenwort" are derived from an old belief, based on the doctrine of signatures, that the fern was useful for ailments of the spleen, due to the spleen-shaped sori on the backs of the fronds. "-wort" is an ancient English term that simply means "plant" (compare German -wurz).

Asplenium species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species. A few of these ferns have some economic importance in the horticulture trade. The bird's-nest ferns (A. nidus and several very similar, closely related species) are commonly found for sale as a house plant.

Asplenium marinum is known as the Sea Spleenwort because of its preference for maritime habitats around the coasts of Europe from Italy in the South to Norway in the North.