Name: Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott
Synonyms: Polypodium exaltatum L.; Aspidium exaltatum (L.) Sw.; Nephrodium exaltatum (L.) R.Br.
Etymology: Nephrolepis = kidney scale (Greek nephros = kidney, lepis = scale; refers to the kidney-shaped indusium over the sporangia); exaltata = tall-growing, elevated (Latin).

First description: Originally described in 1759 by Carl von Linné as Polypodium exaltatum; transferred to the genus Nephrolepis in 1834 by Wilhelm Heinrich Schott.
Origin / Distribution: Tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas (including Florida, the Caribbean, Central and South America), as well as parts of Africa and Polynesia.
Location / Habitat: Terrestrial, growing on moist, humus-rich forest soils, in swamps and on shaded cliffs, and often also facultatively epiphytic on palm trunks in warm, humid, shaded lowland rainforests.
Description & Notes: Nephrolepis exaltata (commonly known as the sword fern) is a hardy, evergreen fern that forms dense clumps from short rhizomes. Its fronds are once-pinnate, sword-shaped, pendulous or upright, and can reach lengths of over 1.5 meters. The pinnae are oblong-lanceolate, slightly wavy to toothed along the edges, and densely arranged alternately along the frond rachis. The undersides bear the characteristic kidney-shaped clusters of sporangia (sori).

When cultivated, the fern needs a bright to partially shaded location without direct, scorching midday sun. It requires a consistently slightly moist, well-drained, humus-rich substrate. Because the species is sensitive to dry indoor air, high humidity (over 60%) and warm to warm-intermediate temperatures year-round (ideally 18–24 °C) are essential for healthy growth.