說到山蘇，大家都會想到美味可口的山產佳餚-炒山蘇。臺灣原生的山蘇種類有南洋山蘇、臺灣山蘇及山蘇這三種，這其中又以南洋山蘇口感最佳，嫩芽比較大，是主要食用種，栽培最廣泛。辨識方法是南洋山蘇葉背的中肋有明顯突起的稜線，另外兩種沒有。這類植物附生在樹上，由於葉片從中心向四方開展成碗形，就像樹幹上的鳥巢，因此也稱為巢蕨。

When it comes to Nest Fern, everyone will think of the delicious delicacy - fried Nest Fern. There are three native species of Nest Fern in Taiwan: Nanyang Nest Fern, Taiwan Nest Fern, and Nest Fern. Among them, Nanyang Nest Fern has the best taste, relatively large buds, and is the main edible species with the most extensive cultivation. The best way to distinguish is the mid-rib of the frond underside of Nanyang Bird Nest has obvious ridge lines, while the other two do not. This kind of plant is epiphytic on the tree, because the fronds spread from the center to the four sides forming a bowl shape, like a bird's nest on the trunk, so it is called nest fern.

鐵角蕨屬多年生草本，臺灣原生，分佈亞洲熱帶區。多年生草本蕨類，根莖短而粗，葉自地下莖叢生，由中心向四方開展而成巢狀；葉端漸尖，闊披針形，葉片中肋有明顯突出於葉背，葉色翠綠，全緣並微呈波浪形，基部被有黑褐色線形鱗片。孢子囊群線形，位於中肋和葉緣之間。

A perennial fern in the genus Asplenium, native to Taiwan and distributed in tropical regions in Asia. Rhizomes short and thick. Fronds clumped from the underground stems and spreading into a nest shape; apex tapering, broad lanceolate, midrib prominent on the underside, green, margin entire and slightly undulate, leaf base covered with dark brown linear scales. Sori linear and located between the midrib and the edge.

全日照或半日照環境，自然附生於樹幹岩石上。人工栽培可附樹或用蛇木板附生，也可以使用培養土種植成盆栽。冬季生育緩慢，夏秋發育快速。以孢子繁殖。

It grows in full-sun or partial-sun environments, naturally epiphytic on tree trunks or rocks. For cultivation, they can be mounted on a tree or a tree fern board to grow as an epiphyte; or planted as a potted plant. Growing slowly in winter, and thriving in summer and autumn. Propagated by spores.

可作樹蔭下的地被植物、室內盆栽、小盆栽或附樹種植。嫩葉可食用，是山蘇類植物中風味最佳者。可藥用，全草清熱解毒。

It can be used as groundcover under tree shades, indoor potted plants, small potted plants or epiphytic on a tree. The young fronds are edible and taste the best among all bird's-nest fern varieties. The whole plant has medicinal uses for clearing heat and detoxifying.