Pteridophyta: Polypodiales

Woodsiaceae - Lady ferns and brittle ferns

Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature

Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria.

Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca

Description of the family

Terrestrial or epilithic ferns. Rhizome creeping or suberect to erect. Fronds monomorphic, approximate or tufted. Stipe and rhachis adaxially grooved, stipe with 2 strap-shaped vascular bundles merging upward into a single U- or V-shaped bundle. Lamina pinnately compound, basiscopically developed or not; veins free or anastomosing. Sori superficial, circular to elongate, linear or J-shaped, borne on the veins, with or without an indusium, homosporus.

Worldwide: Near cosmopolitan distribution, 15 genera and c. 700 species worldwide.

Malawi: 3 genera and 5 taxa.

Links to genera: View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

Genus	Content
Athyrium Roth	Description, Image
Deparia Hook. & Grev.	Description, Image
Diplazium Sw.	Description

Other sources of information about Woodsiaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: Woodsiaceae
Flora of Zambia: Woodsiaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Woodsiaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Woodsiaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Woodsiaceae
Wikipedia: Woodsiaceae