Hemionitis arifolia, Asplenium arifolia, Hemionitis cordifolia

Very unusual tropical fern with heart-shaped, glossy, dark green leaves in a tuft on black stalks.

It has 2 types frond: sterile, heart shaped ones with stalks 2-4 in (5-10 cm) long, and fertile, arrowhead-shaped ones on stalks about 12 in (30 cm) long. Hemionitis arifolia is both an epiphyte (growing on trees) as well as a terrestrial plant. The small dainty shade loving fern grows well in low light with high humidity.

It is making small plantlets at the point where the stem joins the leaf.

Similar plants:

• Hemionitis palmata (Starfern)
• Hemionitis sp. (Hemionitis)
• Asplenium achilleifolium (Asplenium)
• Asplenium bulbiferum (Mother Spleenwort)
• Asplenium dimorphum (Lace Fern, Norfolk Island Spleenwort)
• Asplenium flaccidum (Drooping Spleenwort, Weeping Spleenwort)
• Asplenium nidus, Asplenium nidus-avis (Bird's Nest Fern)
• Asplenium sp. (Bird's Nest Fern)
• Asplenium trichomanes (Maidenhair Spleenwort)
• Asplenium viviparum, Asplenium daucifolium (Mother Fern)