Sword fern is a common name for several
fern
The ferns (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta) are a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissue ...
s and may refer to:
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Nephrolepis
''Nephrolepis'' is a genus of about 30 species of ferns. It is the only genus in the family Nephrolepidaceae, placed in the suborder Aspleniineae (eupolypods I) of the order Polypodiales in the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 ...
'', a tropical genus of ferns, especially:
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Nephrolepis exaltata
''Nephrolepis exaltata'', known as the sword fern or Boston fern, is a species of fern in the family Nephrolepidaceae. It is native to the Americas. This evergreen plant can reach as high as , and in extreme cases up to . It is also known as th ...
'', commonly cultivated as a
houseplant
A houseplant, also known as a pot plant, potted plant, or indoor plant, is an ornamental plant cultivated indoors. for aesthetic or practical purposes. These plants are commonly found in House, homes, Office, offices, and various indoor spaces, w ...
, including the Boston fern
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Polystichum
''Polystichum'' is a genus of ferns in the family (biology), family Dryopteridaceae, subfamily Dryopteridoideae, according to the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I). The genus has about 500 species and has a cosmopolitan ...
'', a cosmopolitan genus of ferns, especially:
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Polystichum munitum
''Polystichum munitum'', the western swordfern, is an evergreen perennial fern native to western North America, where it is one of the most abundant ferns in forested areas. It occurs along the Pacific coast from southeastern Alaska to southern C ...
'', native to western North America
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Giant swordfern
{{Plant common name