Nephrolepis

• Authority

  Mickel, John T. & Beitel, Joseph M. 1988. Pteridophyte Flora of Oaxaca, Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 46: 1-580.

• Family

  Nephrolepidaceae

• Scientific Name

  Nephrolepis

• Description

  Genus Description - Terrestrial, epiphytic, or occasionally epipetric; fronds medium-sized to large, clumped, not articulate; rhizome erect, woody, scaly at apex, generally with numerous above-ground stolons producing young plants along their length, in some species underground stolons tuber-producing; stipe short, scaly, stramineous to brown; blade once-pinnate; pinnae articulate to rachis, thin to coriaceous, often with lime dots on upper surface; veins free, forking; sori round, terminal on veins, indusiate, indusia round, reniform or lunate; spores bilateral.

• Discussion

  Lectotype: Uncertain, regarded by J. Smith (Hist. fil. 226. 1875) and Tryon (Contr. Gray Herb. 194: 225. 1964) as Nephrolepis exaltata (Linnaeus) Schott, but by Christensen (Index filic, xxvii. 1906) as N. biserrata (Swartz) Schott. Nephrolepis is a genus of 25-30 species of tropical regions of the world, seven native in America, one species naturalized from Asia. Several species are widely cultivated. The genus is distinguished by stolons, linear, once-pinnate fronds, and articulate pinnae. References: Morton, C. V. 1958. Observations on cultivated ferns. V. The species forms of Nephrolepis. Amer. Fern J. 48: 18-27; Nauman, C. 1981. The genus Nephrolepis in Florida. Amer. Fern J. 71: 65-70; Pichi Sermolli, R. 1968. Taxonomical notes on Nephrolepis cordifolia (Linnaeus) Presl and related species. Estratto Dagli Ann. Mus. Civico Storia Nat. Genova 77: 270277.