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Nephrolepis exaltata

Mature fertile fronds of the crested race that is the most commonly seen morph wild in New Zealand.<br>Photographer: Peter J de Lange, Date taken: 17/01/2017, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

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Common names

southern sword fern

Biostatus

Exotic

Structural class

Ferns

Distribution

Introduced and Naturalised. New Zealand: Auckland, Hamilton, Napier and Wellington. Indigenous throughout tropics.

Habitat

Urban areas and disturbed forest margins. Often a glasshouse ‘weed’.

Conservation status

Not applicable

Detailed taxonomy

Genus

Nephrolepis

Family

Nephrolepidaceae

Authority

Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott

Endemic genus

Endemic family

Ecology

Year naturalised

2014

Origin

Unknown

Reason for introduction

An ornamental species

Propagation technique

Easily grown from rooted pieces and can be grown from spores. Indications are that this species, at least in the warmer parts of New Zealand is likely to be as invasive as Nephrolepis cordifolia.

Other information

Etymology

nephrolepis: Kidney scale

Referencing and citations

References and further reading

Large M. 2016. Introduced Nephrolepis in New Zealand. Trilepidea 149: 4–5.

Large M, Farrington L. 2016. The Nephrolepis Boston fern complex (including Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott), Nephrolepidaceae, naturalised in New Zealand. Perspectives in Biosecurity Research Series 2: 1–7.

Attribution

Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (18 January 2017).

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