About 170 species of ferns have been recorded for Singapore since the early part of the nineteenth century. Today, about 100 species are still in existence, the rest probably have long disappeared owing to urbanisation. Of these 100 species, about 80 can be found in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. The Reserve provides ideal conditions, both for shade-loving forest ferns and also for the sun-loving, more urban species.
Let us now look at the different types of ferns:

The Spleenwort (Asplenium tenerum) is a close relative of the Bird's Nest Fern. However, the Spleenwort has very different fronds, feathery and composed of tiny leaflets.

The Elephant Fern (Angiopteris evecta) has huge fronds composed of smaller leaflets, on thick stalks, swollen at the base.





Tree ferns (Cyathea spp.) can be found within the Reserve and can be recognised from their large fronds borne on a distinct trunk which can be about 3m tall.


The Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) looks much like its name and tends to stand up more than the Stag's Horn Fern. The Bird's Nest Fern is a epiphytic fern as it grows on trees.