19 - Dryopteridaceae
from Division 3 - Polypodiophyta
Summary
Perennial herbs with short erect or ascending rhizomes with densely opaque scales. Fronds borne in tufts at end of rhizome or its branches, spirally coiled when young, with scales, usually of one kind, 1–3(–4) pinnate. Sori circular, on underside of frond. Indusia peltate or reniform. Plants homosporous. Gametophyte green, surface-living.
Fronds simple or 1-pinnate with pinnae entire to toothed less than halfway to midrib 2.
Fronds 1-pinnate with pinnae divided more than halfway to midrib 3.
Pinnae less than 1.5 cm broad, with sori in one row either side of midrib 1. Polystichum
Pinnae more than 1.5 cm broad, with sori distributed more or less evenly all over underside 2. Cyrtomium
Pinnules with teeth contracted into a very fine acuminate apex; indusia peltate 1. Polystichum
Pinnules untoothed or with rounded to acute teeth; indusia absent, vestigial or reniform 3. Dryopteris
Polystichum Roth
Perennial herbs with stout erect or ascending rhizomes. Fronds in tufts at ends of or on branches of rhizomes, of one kind, 1–2-pinnate, often coriaceous; pinnae and pinnules asymmetrical, with teeth with an apical bristle or spine. Sori in a row down each side of pinna or pinnules or sometimes of main lobes of pinnules. Indusia peltate, attached at the centre.
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- Flora of Great Britain and Ireland , pp. 38 - 49Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2018