Nephrolepis cordifolia
NPPA pest plant
Common names
tuber sword fern
Family
Nephrolepidaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Ferns
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
NEPCOR
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Terrestrial. Open forest, clay banks, track margins, rock outcrops. Lowland sites: rock outcrops, track margins.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
FAC: Facultative
Commonly occurs as either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte (non-wetlands).
Detailed description
Terrestrial or epiphytic fern to 1 m. Rhizomes small, erect, scaly, producing many long runners and round, 1–3 cm hairy potato-like tubers (the only fern with tubers). Fronds 40–100 × 5–8 cm, erect (arching when long), pinnae leaflets) serrated.
Similar taxa
The indigenous Nephrolepis flexuosa is similar, fronds to only 65 cm, no tubers, rare (geothermal sites, Raoul). Nephrolepis exaltata (also called Boston fern) a common indoor fern, is occasionally found wild it differs from N. cordifolia by having wider, softer fronds and no tubers.
Life cycle
Perennial; reproduces vegetatively by tubers. Dispersed by people sharing plants and dumping garden waste.
Year naturalised
1974
Origin
pantropic
Reason for introduction
Ornamental
Etymology
nephrolepis: Kidney scale
National Pest Plant Accord species
This plant is listed in the 2020 National Pest Plant Accord. The National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) is an agreement to prevent the sale and/or distribution of specified pest plants where either formal or casual horticultural trade is the most significant way of spreading the plant in New Zealand. For up to date information and an electronic copy of the 2020 Pest Plant Accord manual (including plant information and images) visit the MPI website.