Nephrolepis acutifolia
Nephrolepis acutifolia (Desv.) Christ
Nephrolepis acutifolia is a fern species in the family Nephrolepidaceae, native to tropical regions across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. It is typically found at low elevations, often growing epiphytically on trees and cliffs. The plant forms dense tufts with long, narrow fronds and distinctive branching runners. It is characterized by elongated marginal sori and a tomentose indument, making it easily recognizable.
Description
Nephrolepis acutifolia grows in tufts of 4–8 fronds, with runners densely branching at right angles to form a bush-like structure. The fronds can reach up to 150 cm in length, with a strongly tapered base and pinnae that vary in shape between sterile and fertile sections. Sori are marginal and linear, while the plant's tomentose covering, including dense scales on the rachis and persistent lamina scales, is a key feature. A variant with fragmented sori, previously misclassified as Diellia brownii, is found in Polynesia but is otherwise identical to the typical form. This species is epiphytic, often found on mangroves, palms, and coastal vegetation, and is distributed widely across tropical regions.
Distribution
Borneo · Cameroon · Caroline Is. · Gabon · Jawa · Kenya · Lesser Sunda Is. · Malaya · Maluku · Marianas · Marquesas · Marshall Is. · Mauritius · Mozambique · Myanmar · New Guinea · Northern Territory · Philippines · Queensland · Rodrigues · Réunion · Sulawesi · Sumatera · Thailand · Tuvalu · Vietnam · Zaïre
Synonyms
Isoloma lanuginosumNephrolepis lindsayaeNephrolepis niphoboloidesDiellia browniiLindsayoides acutifoliaLindsaea acutifoliaLindsaea lanuginosa