sword fern

American  

noun

1. any fern of the genus Nephrolepis, especially N. exaltata, characterized by sword-shaped, pinnate fronds, a common houseplant.

---

sword fern British  

noun

1. any of numerous ferns having sword-shaped fronds

---

Etymology

Origin of sword fern

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

Late spring runoff through midsummer leads to rushing waterfalls, wildflower meadows, sword ferns and emerald mosses within the Olympic Peninsula’s lush lowland woods and pristine old-growth forests.

From Seattle Times

They planted 80,000 plants — like red elderberry, western sword fern and Douglas fir — in the surrounding landscape to make the crossings more natural and attractive to wildlife.

From Seattle Times

Soon after planting, his mother called, delighted, saying, “I saw all these birds landing on my osoberry, and other birds were down in the sword ferns.”

From Seattle Times

On her back sits a basket woven from cedar boughs and bark, sword fern fronds, cattail and grapevines, which is adorned with dried squash and pine cones.

From Seattle Times

But something transformative occurs in a primordial world where a sorrel-carpeted floor and waist-high sword ferns surround towering redwoods, where duff from the needles floats above the understory like soft snow.

From Seattle Times