Botanical Family · Polypodiales

Nephrolepidaceae

Macho Ferns Or Swordferns

3 speciesOrder Polypodiales3+ well-known plants

The Nephrolepidaceae family (Macho Ferns Or Swordferns) is a botanical family placed in the order Polypodiales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 3 species. Its members are predominantly herbs. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Broad Sword Fern, Brown's sword fern and southern sword fern.

Browse all 3 species ↓
Representative NEPHROLEPIDACEAE specimen
Representative specimen · Nephrolepidaceae
Key pattern

Long, narrow, once-divided fronds with many small, closely spaced leaflets growing from a rhizome that also produces long wiry runners tipped with small storage tubers; round spore clusters sit near the leaflet margin, each covered by a small kidney-shaped flap.

As true ferns this family has no flowers or seeds — its wiry runners and small underground storage tubers, unusual among ferns, are the clearest single field mark.

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Notable members

All 3 species in NEPHROLEPIDACEAE

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