Nephrolepis exaltata

Nephrolepis exaltata

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Suborder: Polypodiineae
Family: Nephrolepidaceae
Genus: Nephrolepis
Species:
N. exaltata
Binomial name
Nephrolepis exaltata
(L.) Schott
Subspecies
  • Nephrolepis exaltata subsp. exaltata
  • Nephrolepis exaltata subsp. hawaiiensis W.H.Wagner
Synonyms
  • Aspidium exaltatum (L.) Sw.
  • Hypopeltis exaltata (L.) Bory
  • Nephrodium exaltatum (L.) R.Br.
  • Polypodium exaltatum L.

Nephrolepis exaltata, known as the sword fern or Boston fern, is a species of fern in the family Nephrolepidaceae. It is native to the Americas. This evergreen plant can reach as high as 40–90 centimetres (16–35 in), and in extreme cases up to 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in). It is also known as the Boston sword fern, wild Boston fern, Boston blue bell fern, tuber ladder fern, or fishbone fern.