Streamside Swordfern
Nephrolepis rivularis (Vahl) Mett. ex Krug
Nephrolepis rivularis is a species of fern in the Nephrolepidaceae family, commonly known as Streamside Swordfern. It is native to various regions in South America, including Amazonas, Antioquia, and several national parks in Colombia. The fern grows at low to middle elevations, from sea level to 2200 m, in forested, often moist habitats. It is typically terrestrial or epiphytic, forming small tufts of 3 to 4 fronds.
Description
The plant has runners 0.2–0.9 mm thick, with sparse or dense scales. Fronds measure 39–165 by 5–13 cm, with stipes 6–45 cm long. The lamina base is reduced and tapers over 20–30 cm. Basal pinnae are 0.7–2.6 cm long, while middle pinnae are distinctly falcate. Sterile pinnae have herbaceous, strongly unequal bases and toothed margins. Fertile pinnae are similar but narrower. Sori are submarginal or medial, with 11–20 pairs on fully fertile pinnae. The indusium is reniform with a narrow sinus and is firm and dark. The rachis often has a scabrous appearance due to persistent scales with erecto-patent appendages.
Other common names
Streamside Swordfern
Distribution
BR · Parque Nacional Natural Las Orquídeas | Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta | Parque Nacional Natural Macuira | Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona · No especificado · Amazonas, Antioquia, Boyacá, Caquetá, Cesar, Chocó, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Putumayo, Valle, Vaupés · Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete (PNNSCh) · Leticia · Archipiélago de Cuba
Synonyms
Nephrolepis validaPolypodium rivulareAspidium eminensNephrolepis crenataNephrolepis intermediaAspidium sesquipedaleNephrolepis sesquipedalisLepidoneuron sesquipedaleNephrolepis exaltata var. rivularisNephrolepis hirsutula var. sesquipedalisNephrolepis rivularis var. dominicensisNephrodium crenatum