Nephrolepis

Nephrolepis is a genus of about 30 species of ferns. It is the only genus in the family Nephrolepidaceae, placed in the suborder Aspleniineae of the order Polypodiales in the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016. Species in this genus include plants commonly referred to as Boston ferns. The fronds are long and narrow, and once-pinnate, in the case of one Bornean species reaching thirty feet in length.

Phylogeny

The following cladogram for the suborder Polypodiineae, based on the consensus cladogram in the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016, shows a likely phylogenetic relationship between Nephrolepidaceae and the other families of the clade.

Selected species

Nephrolepis biserrata Schott.
Nephrolepis cordifolia C. Presl
Nephrolepis exaltata Schott
Nephrolepis falcata
Nephrolepis multiflora F.M. Jarret ex C.V. Morton
Nephrolepis obliterata
Nephrolepis pectinata Schott
Nephrolepis tuberosa

Some species of Nephrolepis are grown as ornamental plants.
Nephrolepis exaltata and Nephrolepis obliterata are reported to be good plants for cleaning indoor air.
Some Nephrolepis species may prove to be a good source of new antimicrobial chemicals.