Swordfern

Description

Macrothelypteris torresiana is a species of fern which is native to tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia. It has been introduced into other areas, including large parts of North and South America. The species is assigned to different genera depending on how the family Thelypteridaceae is classified. If the entire family is classified in Thelypteris, it is Thelypteris torresiana. However, molecular data shows an affinity between a group of species which are sometimes classified in Macrothelypteris, Phegopteris, and allied genera, so it is common to remove this species from Thelypteris and classify it as Macrothelypteris torresiana. Macrothelypteris torresiana contains flavonoids which have been investigated for possible medicinal value. Macrothelypteris is a genus of ferns in the family Thelypteridaceae, subfamily Phegopteridoideae, in the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I). The genus name means 'large Thelypteris'.