Swaziland's Alien Plants Database

Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott

NEPHROLEPIDACEAE

Sword fern, Boston fern

Invasive, Minor problem species

Origin: North and Central America (Florida and Mexico) and West Indies

Growth Form: Herb

Plant Description: Plant: A stiff evergreen fern up to 1 m high; terrestrial or epiphytic; forms extensive colonies by means of stolons; produces tubers. Leaves: Pale green, pinnate, up to 1000 mm x 60 mm; pinnae touching or overlapping, oblong with distinct auricles at the base; rhachis densely hairy. Distinguished from the alien (?naturalised), N. cordifolia, which has a hairy pinna midrib above, from the African spp., N. biserrata, with large fronds up to 4 m long & linear pinnae without auricles, & N. undulata (north of Limpopo River) which has a glabrous rhachis. Flowers: No description available. Fruit: Brown, 1.0–1.5 mm wide, on the undersurface of the pinnae.

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