Large Sword Fern

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Large Sword Fern
• Purple-stalk Sword Fern

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Nephrolepis biserrata var. auriculata
• Nephrodium bidentatum
• Nephrolepis bidentata
• Aspidium biserratum
• Aspidium ensifolium
• Aspidium exaltatum var. longipinna
• Aspidium gibbosum
• Aspidium guineense
• Aspidium hoffmannseggii
• Aspidium mauritianum
• Aspidium nigropunctatum
• Aspidium paraense
• Aspidium biserratum var. paraense
• Aspidium punctulatum
• Hypopeltis amygdalina
• Hypopeltis biserrata
• Hypopeltis palmoides
• Nephrodium acuminatum
• Nephrodium gibbosum
• Nephrodium guianense
• Nephrodium hoffmanseggii
• Nephrodium mauritianum
• Nephrodium palmoides
• Nephrodium punctulatum
• Aspidium bidentatum
• Nephrolepis acuta
• Nephrolepis acuta var. laurifolia
• Nephrolepis biserrata var. rufescens
• Nephrolepis caudata
• Nephrolepis dayakorum
• Nephrolepis depauperata
• Nephrolepis ensifolia
• Nephrolepis exaltata var. biserrata
• Nephrolepis gibbosa
• Nephrolepis hirsutula var. acuta
• Nephrolepis hirsutula var. biserrata
• Nephrolepis hirsutula var. ensifolia
• Nephrolepis laurifolia
• Nephrolepis macrophylla
• Nephrolepis mauritiana
• Nephrolepis mollis
• Nephrolepis paraensis
• Nephrolepis persicifolia
• Nephrolepis pilosula
• Nephrolepis punctulata
• Nephrolepis punctulata var. rufescens
• Nephrolepis hirsutula var. rufescens
• Nephrolepis rufescens
• Nephrolepis splendens
• Nephrolepis subcordata
• Nephrolepis zollingeriana
• Polypodium integerrimum
• Polypodium nephrolepioides
• Polypodium punctulatum
• Nephrolepis biserrata subsp. punctulatum
• Pteris piloselloides
• Tectaria fraxinea
• Nephrolepis platyotis
• Polypodium flagelliferum
• Aspidium biserratum var. furcans
• Nephrolepis biserrata var. furcans
• Nephrolepis falcata f. furcans
• Nephrolepis biserrata var. subintegrifolia
• Nephrolepis davallioides var. furcans
• Polypodium signatum
• Pteris signata
• Nephrolepis biaurita
• Lepidoneuron punctulatum
• Lepidoneuron rufescens
• Lepidoneuron biauritum
• Lepidoneuron bidentatum
• Nephrolepis biserrata var. mauritiana
• Nephrolepis biserrata var. glandulosa
• Polypodium punctulatum var. hirsutum
• Nephrolepis biserrata var. digitiformis
• Nephrolepis biserrata var. subferruginea
• Lepidoneuron biserratum
• Nephrodium biserratum
• Lepidoneuron acuminatum
• Nephrodium timoriense
• Polystichum acutum
• Nephrolepis biserrata var. glabrata
• Nephrolepis arthropteroides

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Polypodiinae and the order Polypodiales, falling into the family Polypodiaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by its genus, Nephrolepis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Nephrolepis biserrata, exhibits a specific distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing within the borders of Burkina. Furthermore, the species is documented to inhabit various areas of Ghana. Its presence extends to the territory of Guinea as well. Finally, this medicinal plant is also located in Ivory Coast and Liberia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Nephrolepis biserrata is characterized by its remarkable adaptability across a diverse array of ecosystems and a broad altitudinal gradient. This species inhabits a wide variety of environments, ranging from anthropogenic areas and the Caatinga (strictu sensu) to specialized formations such as Campinarana, Campo de Altitude, and Campo Rupestre. It is also frequently found within the Cerrado (lato sensu) and across multiple forest types, including Ciliary or Gallery forests, Igapó forests, Terra Firme forests, Várzea forests, and both Deciduous and Semi-deciduous Seasonal forests. In terms of vertical distribution, the plant thrives from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2000 m AMSL, maintaining an average elevation of approximately 500 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campinarana, Campo de Altitude, Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Igapó, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta de Várzea, Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Estacional P

Life history

The life history of Nephrolepis biserrata is characterized by its existence as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habit and survival strategy, the plant functions as a geophyte, relying on underground structures to endure varying environmental conditions. Furthermore, its biological classification within life forms identifies it as a cryptophyte, indicating that its vital regenerative parts are protected beneath the soil surface or within organic substrate, ensuring its long-term survival and ability to re-emerge.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Nephrolepis biserrata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, displaying a self-supporting habit that does not require climbing structures. This plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 3 m. Although it can function as a terrestrial species, it exhibits versatile ecological adaptations, existing in aquaic, semiaquatic, or terrestrial habitats, and can also act as a holoepiphyte. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite, maintaining its own nutritional requirements across its varying life forms.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

holoepiphyte

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Nephrolepis biserata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. This metabolic strategy is typical for many ferns inhabiting shaded or moist environments, allowing the plant to optimize light harvesting under varying canopy conditions. Furthermore, the plant lacks succulence, meaning it does not possess specialized fleshy tissues for the significant storage of water, making its physiological regulation highly dependent on consistent environmental moisture and humidity to maintain turgor pressure and metabolic function.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Nephrolepis biserrata is characterized by specific dispersal strategies that facilitate its spread within its habitat. The plant exhibits an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying primarily on wind to transport its reproductive units across distances. This anemochorous mechanism is further specified within its reproductive ecology, reinforcing the role of wind-driven movement as a primary method for colonization and distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Nephrolepis biserrata has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ivalin, 3-Hydroxycoumarin, Alnustin, Ankorine, Brassinolide.

Ivalin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Scientific reports

3-Hydroxycoumarin

1. Scientific reports

Alnustin

1. Scientific reports

Ankorine

1. Scientific reports

Brassinolide

1. Scientific reports

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Scientific reports

Eschscholtzxanthin

1. Scientific reports

Flavonoids

1. Scientific reports

Haplophytine

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

IRON

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations