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Nephrolepis exaltata
(L.) Schott
Boston Fern
Nephrolepidaceae
Nephrolepis exaltata is a species of fern in the family Nephrolepidaceae. It is native to Florida, and the West Indies. It is commonly grown as a houseplant, and is locally naturalized in the United States.
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Description
Nephrolepis exaltata is a terrestrial plant or an epiphyte. The wild form has leaves that are 40 to 150 cm long and 5 to 12 cm wide. The stipe is 2 to 40 cm long, with sparse scales. Scales are brownish, uniformly colored. The leaf blade is smooth, slightly scaly near the midrib on the lower side. Leaves are pinnate, with leaflets that are spaced 7.3 to 21 mm apart. Leaflets are narrowly triangular, with a widened truncate base. Indusia are 1 to 1.7 mm wide, kidney-shaped (like the scientific name of the genus suggests), and are borne on the underside of the leaflets (FNAEC 1993).
A form, called Boston fern, was discovered in a florist's shop in Boston in 1895. Compared to the wild form, it is generally sterile, and can tolerate the extremely dry air of a house (Blaydes 1940).
A form, called Boston fern, was discovered in a florist's shop in Boston in 1895. Compared to the wild form, it is generally sterile, and can tolerate the extremely dry air of a house (Blaydes 1940).
Uses
Note: Please see the disclaimer regarding any information about medical or edible uses.
Nephrolepis exaltata is extremely common as a houseplant, with an estimated 1 to 2 million grown each year. The cultivar 'Bostoniensis' (sometimes called var. bostoniensis) is used over the wild form, because it can tolerate drier air than the wild form (Blaydes 1940). Nephrolepis exaltata grows in USDA zones 10 to 12, preferring bright indirect light, and relatively moist soils (MBG).
Distribution
Nephrolepis exaltata is commonly an epiphyte on trees, in forested or open areas, at low elevations. It is native to Florida, West Indies, and some Pacific Islands (FNAEC 1993). It is locally escaped in Arizona, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi (Kartesz 2015).
Status
References
Blaydes, G. W. 1940. Evolution of Boston Fern Varieties. The American Biology Teacher, 2(6): 145–146.
FNAEC (Flora of North America Editorial Committee), editor. 1993. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 2: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. New York: Oxford University Press.
Kartesz, J. T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Nephrolepis exaltata. Plant Finder. [accessed 2019 Jun 12]. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c548
FNAEC (Flora of North America Editorial Committee), editor. 1993. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 2: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. New York: Oxford University Press.
Kartesz, J. T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].
MBG (Missouri Botanical Garden), Nephrolepis exaltata. Plant Finder. [accessed 2019 Jun 12]. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c548
Description
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