Family DRYOPTERIDACEAE
Description: Terrestrial ferns; rhizome creeping or erect, covered with scales; stipes not articulated to the rhizome.
Fronds with simple, pinnate or more compound lamina, vernation circinate, glabrous or covered with hairs and/or scales; veins free or anastomosing.
Sori usually circular and indusiate; the indusium peltate or reniform.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 29 genera, > 1000 species, cosmopolitan. Australia: 8 genera, 31 species, Qld, N.S.W., Vic., Tas., S.A.
External links:
Wikipedia
Text by Peter G. Wilson
Taxon concept:
Taxa not yet included in identification key
Rumohra
| | Key to the genera | |
| 1 | Fronds pinnate, veins anastomosing | Cyrtomium |
| Fronds 2-pinnate or more compound, veins free | 2 |
| 2 | Channel of the main rachis usually relatively broad and not slit-like, covered densely with short or long hairs | Lastreopsis |
| Channel of the main rachis usually relatively narrow and slit-like, glabrous or bearing scales
Back to 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Rhizomes long-creeping, fronds distant; scales at base of stipe narrow-lanceolate, <2 mm wide; indusia usually reniform, sometimes a few peltate | Arachniodes |
| Rhizomes erect, fronds tufted; scales at base of stipe broad, usually >3 mm wide; indusia peltate
Back to 2 | Polystichum |
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