Pteridaceae
Pteris

Pteris ensiformis Burm.f.

First published in Fl. Ind.: 230 (1768)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical & Subtropical Asia to Pacific. It is a rhizomatous geophyte and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

Distribution

Native to:

Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Cambodia, Caroline Is., China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Fiji, Hainan, India, Japan, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Maluku, Marianas, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Philippines, Queensland, Samoa, Solomon Is., Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis-Futuna Is.

Introduced into:

Argentina Northeast, Arkansas, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Cuba, French Guiana, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Puerto Rico, Windward Is.

Accepted Infraspecifics

Classification

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PAFTOL

Publications

POWO follows these authorities in accepting this name:

  • Chang, C.-S., Kim, H. & Chang, K.S. (2021). Checklist of Far East Asian Vascular Flora 1: 1-626. EABCN, Seoul.
  • Chen, C.-W. & al. (2022). An annotated checklist of lycophytes and ferns of the Solomon islands. The Fern Gazette 21: 292-419.
  • Dey, M. & al. (2023). Additions to the Pteridophyte flora from Jalpaiguri district of Eastern Himalayan foot hills region, West Bengal. Indian Fern Journal 40(2): 39-61.
  • Ebihara, A. (2016). The standard of ferns and lycophytes in Japan. Nihonsan shida shokubutsu hyojun zukan 1: 1-475. Gakken Plus, Tokyo.
  • Fraser-Jenkins, C.R. & al. (2017). An Annotated Checklist of Indian Pteridophytes 1: 1-562. Dehra Dun : BSMPS.
  • Hsu, T.C., Chen, C.W., Knapp, R. & Hung, H.C. (2019). Ferns and Lycophytes I. The illustrated flora of Taiwan. Tai wan yuan sheng zhi wu quan tu jian 8(1): 1-448. Tai bei shi : Mao tou ying chu ban : Jia ting chuan mei cheng bang fen gong si fa xing.
  • Loc, P.K. & al. (2019). A checklist of pteridophytes collected on Cham Chu mountains and adjacent sites. Journal of Biology. Hanoi, Vietnam 41: 75-89.
  • Meyer, J.-Y. (2017). Guide des plantes de Wallis et Futuna: 1-486. Au vent des iles, editions, Tahiti.
  • Plunkett, G.M., Ranker, T.A., Sam, C. & Balick, M.J. (2022). Towards a checklist of the vascular flora of Vanuatu. Candollea 77: 105-118.
  • Roskov Y. & al. (eds.) (2018). World Ferns: Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life Naturalis, Leiden, the Netherlands.
  • Singh, S.K. & al. (2023). Pteridophytes of Meghalaya. A pictorial guide: 1-246. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh.

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • (2019). www.phytoneuron.net/2019Phytoneuron/08PhytoN-ArkansasFerns.pdf. epublication.
  • (2021). https://doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v28i1.54213. epublication.
  • (2023). http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/2175-7860202374080. epublication.
  • (2023). https://sbocc.fr/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Carnets-botaniques-n°143.pdf. epublication.
  • Dey, M. & al. (2023). Additions to the Pteridophyte flora from Jalpaiguri district of Eastern Himalayan foot hills region, West Bengal. Indian Fern Journal 40(2): 39-61.
  • Ebihara, A. (2016). The standard of ferns and lycophytes in Japan. Nihonsan shida shokubutsu hyojun zukan 1: 1-475. Gakken Plus, Tokyo.
  • Fraser-Jenkins, C.R. & al. (2017). An Annotated Checklist of Indian Pteridophytes 1: 1-562. Dehra Dun : BSMPS.
  • Hsu, T.C., Chen, C.W., Knapp, R. & Hung, H.C. (2019). Ferns and Lycophytes I. The illustrated flora of Taiwan. Tai wan yuan sheng zhi wu quan tu jian 8(1): 1-448. Tai bei shi : Mao tou ying chu ban : Jia ting chuan mei cheng bang fen gong si fa xing.
  • Meyer, J.-Y. (2017). Guide des plantes de Wallis et Futuna: 1-486. Au vent des iles, editions, Tahiti.

Kew Plants for Health

  • "Int. Poisonous Plants Checklist (2008, Wagstaff)"
  • "World Checklist of Useful Pl. Spp. (Diazgranados et al., 2020)"
  • MPNS Import
  • US-FDA GSRS (2025)

Other Data

Other Kew resources that provide information on this taxon:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
Jun 1, 1997 Gay, H.J. [345] K000472574 No
Jun 1, 1997 Gay, H.J. [345] K000472573 No
Jun 1, 1997 Sands, M.J.S. [6566] Indonesia K000472564 No
Jun 1, 1997 Sands, M.J.S. [6566] Indonesia K000472565 No
Jan 1, 1991 Kairo, A. [628] K000472566 No
Jan 1, 1991 Kairo, A. [628] K000472567 No
Jan 1, 1991 Schlechter, F.R.R. [13721] K000472571 No
Dec 11, 1988 Lörzing, J.A. [11928] Indonesia K000451935 No
Jul 1, 1983 Maingay, A.C. [3209] Malaysia K000444419 No
Feb 25, 1982 Streimann, H.; Lelean, Y. [LAE52619] K000472578 No
Feb 1, 1977 Heya; Maurus; Suali [72510] Malaysia K000451949 No
Feb 1, 1977 Heya; Maurus; Suali [72510] Malaysia K000451950 No
May 1, 1939 Bloembergen, S. [3706] Indonesia K000451943 No
Jan 1, 1930 Cuming, H. [409] Philippines K000475533 No
Jan 1, 1924 Toxopeus, L.J. [101] Indonesia K000451963 No
Feb 1, 1923 Slooten, D.F., van [766] Indonesia K000451938 No
Jan 1, 1909 Branderhorst, B. [138] Indonesia K000474910 No
Elmer, A.D.E. [7059] Philippines K000475540 No
Piggott, A.G. [1989] Malaysia K000444427 No
Lobb, T. [s.n.] Philippines K000475553 No
Elmer, A.D.E. [12453] Philippines K000475532 No
Kondo, Y.; Edaño, G. [38644] Philippines K000475545 No
Merrill, E.D. [3347] Philippines K000475537 No
Clemens, J.; Clemens, M.S. [27690] Malaysia K000451952 No
Beaman, J.H.; Beaman, T.E. [11010] Malaysia K000451948 No
Corner, E.J.H. [s.n.] Malaysia K000444429 No
Cuming, H. [410] Philippines K000475555 Type Yes
Parris, B.S.; Croxall, J.P. [3994] K000472577 No
Hartmann, C. [s.n.] K000474909 No
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2181] India K001115374 Unknown Type Material Yes
Gwynne-Vaughan, D. [638] Malaysia K000444418 No
Piggott, A.G. [3049] Malaysia K000444431 No
Kunstler, H.H. [8334] Malaysia K000444422 No
Lobb, T. [440] Singapore K000444439 No
Braithwaite [2315] Vanuatu K001561047 Yes
Braithwaite [2315] Vanuatu K001561048 Yes
Braithwaite [2315] Vanuatu K001561049 Yes
Braithwaite [2315] Vanuatu K001561050 Yes
Braithwaite [2315] Vanuatu K001561051 Yes
Braithwaite [2315] Vanuatu K001561052 Yes
Braithwaite [2315] Vanuatu K001561053 Yes
Braithwaite [2315] Vanuatu K001561054 Yes
Braithwaite [2315] Vanuatu K001561055 Yes
Braithwaite [2547] Vanuatu K001561030 Yes
Braithwaite [2547] Vanuatu K001561031 Yes
Braithwaite [2547] Vanuatu K001561032 Yes
Braithwaite [2547] Vanuatu K001561033 Yes
Braithwaite [2547] Vanuatu K001561034 Yes
Kunstler, H.H. [1744] Malaysia K000444421 No
Kiew, R. [1521] Malaysia K000444428 No
Carr, C.E. [12931] K000472580 No
Elmer, A.D.E. [18081] Philippines K000475551 No
Anonymous [s.n.] Singapore K000444440 No
Elmer, A.D.E. [18081] Philippines K000475550 No
Comber, H.F. [4066] Malaysia K000451954 No
Sinclair, J. [9362] Singapore K000444442 No
Anonymous [s.n.] Malaysia K000444420 No
Kondo, Y.; Edaño, G. [38687] Philippines K000475544 No
Topping, D.L. [526] Philippines K000475535 No
Brass, L.J. [25939] K000472575 No
Copeland, E.B. [375] Philippines K000475538 No
Elmer, A.D.E. [14805] Philippines K000475542 No
Copeland, E.B. [56] Philippines K000475539 No
Weber, C.M. [1162] Philippines K000475541 No
Iwatsuki, k.; Kato, M.; Ueda, K.; Mahjar, U.W. [A337] Indonesia K000451959 No
Iwatsuki, k.; Kato, M.; Ueda, K.; Mahjar, U.W. [A337] Indonesia K000451961 No
Hose, E.S.; Hose, G. [190] Malaysia K000444437 No
Kostermans, A.J.G.H. [18590] Indonesia K000451942 No
Cuming, H. [46] Philippines K000475549 No
Cuming, H. [46] Philippines K000475534 No
Stone, B.C. [11885] Malaysia K000444432 No
Comber, H.F. [4066] Malaysia K000451955 No
Kato, M.; Ueda, K.; Okamoto, M.; Sunarno, B. [C8020] Indonesia K000451962 No
Carr, C.E. [11041] K000472579 No
Cuming, H. [410] Philippines K000475556 Type Yes
Piggott, A.G. [3049] Malaysia K000444430 No
Parris, B.S.; Croxall, J.P. [8944] Malaysia K000451951 No
Hallier, J.G. [s.n.] Indonesia K000451939 No
Piggott, A.G. [1989] Malaysia K000444426 No
Curtis, C. [432] Indonesia K000451958 No
Stone, B.C. [11885] Malaysia K000444433 No
Schiffner, V.F. [s.n.] Indonesia K000451937 No
Edwards, P.J. [1677] Malaysia K000444435 No
Fitzgerald, W. [78] K000472568 No
Sulit, M.D. [32808] Philippines K000475548 No
Crutwell, N.E.G. [316] K000472581 No
Kondo, Y.; Edaño, G. [38687] Philippines K000475546 No
Brass, L.J. [25939] K000472576 No
Hollrung, M. [593] K000472570 No
Edaño, G.E. [21233] Philippines K000475554 No
Hose, E.S.; Hose, G. [190] Malaysia K000444438 No
Kostermans, A.J.G.H. [22184] Indonesia K000451944 No
Anonymous [s.n.] Singapore K000444441 No
Croft, J.R. [2102] K000472584 No
s.coll. [Cat. no. 7085] India K001126707 Unknown Type Material Yes
Clemens, J.; Clemens, M.S. [27485] Malaysia K000451953 No
Brass, L.J. [27340] K000472582 No
Piggott, A.G. [1513] Malaysia K000444436 No
Croft, J.R. [2102] K000472586 No
Croft, J.R. [170] K000472583 No
Hose, G.F. [s.n.] Malaysia K000451956 No
Haniff, M.; Nur, M. [10139] Malaysia K000444425 No
Timothy, J.; Kairo, A. [NGF27979] K000472572 No
Kondo, Y.; Edaño, G. [38644] Philippines K000475547 No
Matthew, C.G. [s.n.] Malaysia K000451946 No
Lobb, T. [440] Philippines K000475552 No
Mousset, J.P. [136] Indonesia K000451940 No
Kostermans, A.J.G.H.; Wirawan [326] Indonesia K000451945 No
Kato, M.; Ueda, K.; Okamoto, M.; Sunarno, B. [C8020] Indonesia K000451960 No
Pereira, J.T.; Wong, K.M.; Sugau, J.B.; Nilus, R. [626] Malaysia K000451947 No
Sinclair, J. [40100] Malaysia K000444434 No
Clemens, J.; Clemens, M.S. [29028] Malaysia K000451957 No
Cuming, H. [46] Philippines K000475536 No
Elmer, A.D.E. [9506] Philippines K000475543 No
Anonymous [11] Indonesia K000451936 No
Yapp, R.H. [207] Malaysia K000444424 No
Matthew, C.G. [s.n.] Malaysia K000444423 No
Fryar, D. [4026] K000472569 No
Buwalda, P. [2745] Indonesia K000451941 No
Croft, J.R. [2102] K000472585 No
Henderson, M.R. [20282] Indonesia K000451934 No

Sources

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images