Asplenium aethiopicum is a lithophytic or sometimes epiphytic species of fern found in Southern and tropical Africa, tropical America, Asia and Australia.

[3][4][5] It is listed as critically endangered in Victoria, Australia.

[5] It is considered exotic in New Zealand.

[6] Asplenium aethiopicum was originally published under the name Trichomanes aethiopicum by Nicolaas Laurens Burman in 1768.

[3] In 1935 Alfred Becherer moved this taxon to the genus Asplenium creating the name Asplenium aethiopicum.