Plant · GBIF taxon 2650927
southern sword fern
Nephrolepis exaltataAlso known as Boston Fern, Sword Fern, Wild Boston Fern, Fishbone Fern
Southern sword ferns produce dense clumps of bright green, pinnately divided fronds that arch gracefully outward. Found natively across humid tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, they spread rapidly via slender stolons to form rich ground cover. Underground tubers help the plant store water and survive occasional dry spells in shaded forest understories.
EvergreenTropicalOrnamental
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Slugs
- Snails
- Caterpillars
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, severe frost
HabitatsSubtropical forests, swamps, damp hammocks
Life spanPerennial (10+ years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPolypodiales
- FamilyNephrolepidaceae
- GenusNephrolepis
- SpeciesNephrolepis exaltata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Habitat Spotting: Look for lush foliage in damp, dappled forest understories and shaded rocky banks.
- Spore Inspection: Flip mature fronds to observe neat rows of round spore cases along the pinnae.
- Indoor Care: Provide bright indirect light and high humidity to prevent browning of frond tips.
Co-occurring Fern Starfarmer / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Shaun Swanepoel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Shaun Swanepoel · cc-by
Close Relative Daderot / Public domain · cc0
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