Hen & Chickens

Asplenium bulbiferum, known as mother spleenwort, is a species of fern endemic to New Zealand. It is also called hen and chicken fern and, in the Māori language, pikopiko, mouku or mauku. Its fronds are eaten as a vegetable. It grows small bulbils on top of its fronds. Once grown to about 5 cm (2.0 in), these offspring fall off and, provided the soil they land in is kept moist, develop a root system and grow into new ferns. This additional means of reproduction can be employed with greater ease than propagation by spores. There are a number of similar Southern Hemisphere species which have a similar mode of reproduction, including Asplenium daucifolium. Asplenium bulbiferum commonly grows in most bush areas in New Zealand. It thrives in many situations from shade to partial sunlight.