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Glite Dictionary
Nephrolepis exaltata

Nephrolepis exaltata

9.5
A fern often grown in houses with long curved leaves
  • noun
  • /ˌnɛfroʊˈliːpɪs ɛkˈsɔltə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Nephrolepis exaltata
  • The Nephrolepis exaltata thrives in humid rooms with indirect sunlight.

Examples

  • With its graceful arching fronds, the Nephrolepis exaltata adds beauty to any indoor space.

  • The fronds of Nephrolepis exaltata can grow impressively long if well cared for.

  • Many people choose the Nephrolepis exaltata to purify the air in their homes.

  • The Nephrolepis exaltata is a popular choice for indoor gardening.

  • Many people love the Nephrolepis exaltata for its lush green fronds.

  • Many people choose the Nephrolepis exaltata as a decorative plant for their homes.

  • The Nephrolepis exaltata thrives well in bathrooms where humidity is high.

Synonyms

Boston fern
vsNephrolepis exaltata
5.0

A houseplant fern with long arching leaves that people grow indoors

focuses on pinnate frond structure rather than just frond length

Surface Forms

Nephrolepis exaltata singular
Nephrolepis exaltatas plural

Morphology

Nephrolepis + exaltata

This is a Latin binomial combining a genus name and a specific epithet, so if a learner knows 'Nephrolepis' and understands scientific naming conventions they can infer it refers to a particular species of that genus. However, the epithet 'exaltata' is not an English lexical item (and carries Latin/technical meaning), so an average B1 learner would not derive descriptive meaning from the parts without specialist knowledge.

Etymology

Nephrolepis exaltata comes from old words that mean 'kidney' and 'raised'. The first part Nephrolepis points to small, scale-like parts that look a bit like a 'kidney', and exaltata means 'lifted up', so the name paints a simple picture of a fern with long, arching fronds that stand up or rise.