Pteridophyta: Polypodiales

Dryopteridaceae - Wood 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, rarely lithophythic or low-level epiphytic ferns. Rhizome creeping, short-decumbent, suberect or erect, often laterally branched, often stoloniferous. Fronds monomorphic or dimorphic. Stipe not articulated. Lamina 2-pinnatifid to 4-pinnate. Lower pinnae often basiscopically developed. Veins free or anastomosing, with or without included veinlets, mostly ending near the margin. Indumentum composed of bracts occurring on rhizome, axes and lamina, also with glands or hairs occurring along the axes and lamina surfaces. Sori superficial, circular or elongate, dorsal or at the veins ending, with or without a peltate or reniform indusium or exindusiate.

Worldwide: ± 35 genera and ± 1000 species, cosmopolitan distribution.

Malawi: 7 genera and 15 taxa.

Dryopteris athamantica

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

GenusContent
Arachniodes BlumeDescription
Ctenitis (C.Chr.) C. Chr.Description
Didymochlaena Desv.Description, Image
Dryopteris Adans.Description, Image
Megalastrum HolttumDescription
Nothoperanema (Tagawa) ChingDescription, Image
Polystichum RothDescription, Image

Other sources of information about Dryopteridaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: Dryopteridaceae
Flora of Zambia: Dryopteridaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Dryopteridaceae

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-23

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2023). Flora of Malawi: Family page: Dryopteridaceae.
https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=78, retrieved 25 March 2023

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