Nephrolepis biserrata

Native to Florida

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Giant sword fern is a perennial fern.

Its current distribution includes Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (Kartesz, 1999). Within Florida, it is occasionally found in swamps and wet hammocks; sometimes epiphytic; from the central and southern peninsula (Wunderlin, 2003).

Identification: The fronds of Nephrolepis biserrata reach 2.5 m tall. The petioles are sparse to moderate with reddish to light brown hair-like scales. The rachis has moderately spaced scales of one color. The pinnae reach 23 cm long, 2 cm wide, attached to 3.5 cm apart. The margins are finely double-toothed and densely pubescent below. The apices are long and pointed; the central vein has dense erect hairs, short matted hairs, or is rarely glabrous on the upper surface. The indusia are circular to horseshoe-shaped. Lastly, tubers are never present in this species (Langeland, 2001).

For more information about Nephrolepis, download this UF/IFAS-EDIS publication, Natural Areas Weeds: Distinguishing Native and Non-Native "Boston Ferns" and "Sword Ferns" (Nephrolepis spp.) by K.A. Langeland.