asplenium n any fern of the very large genus Asplenium, of worldwide distribution. Some, esp. the bird's nest fern (A. nidus), are grown as greenhouse or house plants for their decorative deeply-cut evergreen fronds: family Polypodiaceae
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spleenwort (New Latin, from Latin asplenum, from Greek asplenon spleenwort, from a- not + splen spleen (from its reputed medicinal properties))