Awesome Asplenium

There are two epiphytic species of Asplenium in New Zealand (excluding accidental species) and I must say... I'm quite a fan:

Asplenium flaccidum - makawe - drooping spleenwort
Asplenium polyodon - petako - sickle spleenwort

Both species are drooping ferns that often hang from the forks of host trees or the base of nest epiphytes. Makawe tends to arrive on a host tree earlier than petako and is considered to be the hardier species. 

Makawe

Makawe drooping from a host trunk. C. Kirby.

The sori and prominent central vein of makawe. C. Kirby.

Makawe has very thick fronds with sori that line the inner edge of the pinnae and a prominent central vein. The name makawe also means hair of the head which surely has a connection to the long, flowing form of the fern.

The thick, flowing foliage of makawe. C. Kirby.

Petako

Petako growing from the base of a nest epiphyte. C. Kirby.

Petako has glossy, sickle-shaped leaves with double-toothed margins. It has dark stipes when mature and rows of sori on the frond underside that sit along the veins.

Sori of petako running along the veins of the frond underside. C. Kirby.

Double-toothed margins of petako. C. Kirby.

According to Wikipedia, the term 'spleenwort' refers to the use of Asplenium species for treating ailments of the spleen. This was apparently done because the sori resemble the shape of the spleen.