Compilation
Polypodium exaltatum

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Name

Identification
Polypodium exaltatum L. [family NEPHROLEPIDACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Daniel Carl Solander, Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott [family NEPHROLEPIDACEAE ] Verified by George Samuel Jenman,
Related name
  • Polypodium exaltatum
  • Nephrodium exaltatum
  • Nephrolepis exaltata
Common name
  • Sword fern, Flora of North America Vol. 2
  • wild Boston fern, Flora of North America Vol. 2

Flora

Entry for Nephrolepis exaltata (Linnaeus) Schott [family OLEANDRACEAE]
Herbarium
Flora of North America (FNA)
Collection
Flora of North America
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 2,
Names
Nephrolepis exaltata (Linnaeus) Schott [family OLEANDRACEAE], Gen. Fil., plate 3. 1834
Polypodium exaltatum Linnaeus [family POLYPODIACEAE], Syst. Nat. ed., 10, 2: 1326. 1759
Treatment Author(s)
Clifton E. Nauman
Information
Stem scales spreading, concolored. Tubers absent. Leaves 4--15 × 0.5--1.2 dm. Petiole 0.2--4 dm, sparsely to moderately scaly; scales spreading, pale brown to reddish brown, concolored. Blade glabrous, sparsely to moderately scaly abaxially near costae and adaxially. Rachis 2.4--16.3 dm, points of pinna attachment 7.3--21 mm apart; scales moderately spaced, pale to dark brown, essentially concolored or margin indistinctly paler; hairs absent. Central pinnae deltate-oblong, slightly to distinctly falcate, 2.3--7.4 × 0.6--1.8 cm, base truncate to truncate-auriculate or auriculate, occasionally overlapping rachis, acroscopic lobe deltate to acute, margins serrulate, apex acute to deltate; costae adaxially glabrous. Indusia reniform to horseshoe-shaped, attached at narrow or broad sinus, 1--1.7 mm wide.
Altitude range
0 m
Distribution
West IndiesPacific Islands in scattered locations.USA Fla.
Discussion
Nephrolepis exaltata is occasionally found farther north in the flora, but only as an escape from cultivation. Nephrolepis exaltata is usually confused with N . cordifolia when sterile; the latter species can be distinguished by its distinctly bicolored, adaxial rachis scales. These bicolored scales will distinguish N . cordifolia from all of the other species, even in the absence of other key features.

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