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Nephrolepis obliterata (R.Br.) J.Sm.

Australian sword fern

Native records: 12 botanical areas

Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Is., Fiji, 9 more areas

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Natural distribution

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NativeIntroducedUncertain

Distribution is shown as WGSRPD Level 3 areas. It does not imply the species occurs throughout an entire area.

Last updated:

Distribution last verified:

See sources

Photograph of Nephrolepis obliterata

An epiphyte. Native to Papua New Guinea, Australia, Indonesia, American Samoa, Fiji, Micronesia and elsewhere.

This entry carries only the classification and distribution data recorded in WCVP. A written account is not yet available.

Distribution areas

  • American Samoa

    • SamoaNative

  • Australia

    • Northern TerritoryNative
    • QueenslandNative

  • Fiji

    • FijiNative

  • Indonesia

    • MalukuNative
    • New GuineaNative

  • Micronesia, Federated States of

    • Caroline Is.Native

  • New Caledonia

    • New CaledoniaNative

  • Palau

    • Caroline Is.Native

  • Papua New Guinea

    • Bismarck ArchipelagoNative
    • New GuineaNative
    • Solomon Is.Native

  • Samoa

    • SamoaNative

  • Solomon Islands

    • Solomon Is.Native

  • Tuvalu

    • TuvaluNative

  • Vanuatu

    • VanuatuNative

Climate of the native range

The Köppen climate classes found in the areas this plant is recorded as native to. It does not mean an entire area has that climate.

  • Af Tropical, rainforest
  • BSh Arid, steppe, hot
  • BWh Arid, desert, hot
  • Aw Tropical, savannah
  • Am Tropical, monsoon
  • Cfa Temperate, no dry season, hot summer
  • Cfb Temperate, no dry season, warm summer

The same climate occurs in 220 areas worldwide, 208 of which have no record of this plant. See them on the map

A matching climate does not mean the plant can grow there. Range limits are also set by things other than climate — dispersal history, soils, competition. Source: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0 (observed period 1991–2020).

Recorded medicinal uses

The cited source records medicinal use of this plant. It is not an assessment of efficacy or safety.

  • Nephrolepis obliterata is recorded as used medicinally.

    Source location: p.681, left column, line 45

    World Checklist of Useful Plant Species · Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity (KNB) · CC BY 4.0 · source version: wcups-2020-62602715

    Open source

Other names

Australian sword fern、Kimberley Queen fern、Kimberly Queen fern

Family
Polypodiaceae
Genus
Nephrolepis

Other species in Nephrolepis

Sources

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    American Samoa · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Australia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Fiji · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Micronesia, Federated States of · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Indonesia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    New Caledonia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Palau · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Papua New Guinea · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Solomon Islands · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Tuvalu · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Vanuatu · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Samoa · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

Image information