Nephrolepis

Nephrolepis is a genus of plants, primarily tropical ferns, belonging to the family Polypodiaceae. These ferns are characterized by large, pinnate fronds. The pinnae, which are the leaflets, are articulated at the rachis (the main stem of the frond). Sori, which are clusters of sporangia (spore-producing structures), are found on the upper branches of the free veins.1

A well-known example within this genus is Nephrolepis exaltata, the species from which the Boston fern was developed. Ferns, in general, exhibit a wide range of habitats and forms, from tiny plants to large tree ferns, and are most abundant in warm, damp environments.23