Nephrolepis biserrata(Sw.) Schott

CLASSIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

Plant Division	Ferns & Allies (Non-Seed Vascular Plants) (Fern)
Plant Growth Form	Herbaceous Plant
Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic

BIOGEOGRAPHY

Native Distribution	Pantropical, Southeast Asia, Australia, North and South America, the Pacific islands
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical
Local Conservation Status	Native to Singapore

DESCRIPTION AND ETHNOBOTANY

Growth Form	Ascending to sub-erect fern, sometimes having a few fronds drooping.
Foliage	Fern blade is large and measuring between 1 - 1.5 m long and 30 - 40 cm wide, lanceolate and narrowing towards the base and apex, stipes measuring about 40 - 60 cm long.
Reproductive Parts - non-flowering plant	Sori round and arranged in one row nearer to margin, indusia kidney-shaped and glabrous, measuring about 1.5 mm wide.
Etymology	Genus Nephrolepis means "kidney-scale" and refers to the shape of the indusia of the sori. Species biserrata means double-toothed and refers to the leaf margin of the fern.

NParks | Nephrolepis biserrata