Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Polypodiopsida
Synonymy:
  • = Filicopsida
 Key
Key to families of ferns and lycophytes
Aquatic plants
1Plants aquatic2
Plants terrestrial or epiphytic4
2Plants free-floating on water surfaceSalviniaceae
Plants rooted to bottom of lake or pond3
3Rhizomes long-creeping; sporangia borne in round, stalked capsules attached at base of leavesMarsileaceae
Rhizomes erect; sporangia borne in swollen bases of leavesIsoetaceae
Lycophytes, horsetails, and fork ferns
4Leaves or leaf-like structures arising from aerial stems, each with a single unbranched vein, <45 mm long; sporangia usually borne on adaxial surface of leaves, often in cones, or rarely on adaxial edge of forked leaves (Tmesipteris)5
Leaves or fronds arising from erect or creeping rhizomes, each with branching veins, usually >45 mm long, often much more (up to 4 m long); sporangia borne on margins or abaxial surfaces of fronds, never in cones9
5Branches arising in whorls at nodes along the stem; leaves fused laterally, forming rings at nodes along the stem Equisetaceae
Branches and leaves not in whorls and rings along the stem6
6Sporangia fused in pairs on the adaxial edges of forked leaf-like structures, or in clusters of three on adaxial surface of tiny veinless scales; cones absentPsilotaceae
Sporangia produced singly on adaxial surfaces of leaves, usually in distinct cones (except Huperzia)7
7Plants terrestrial, upright, stem <50 mm long, with an underground tuber; cones single and terminal on a leafless stalk; leaves 7–20 mm long, forming a basal rosetteLycopodiaceae
Plants scrambling, climbing or epiphytic; or, if terrestrial and upright, stem >50 mm long, lacking an underground tuber; cones sessile or on leafy stalks, or rarely absent; leaves borne on elongated stems8
8Leaves herbaceous, ovate or elliptic; cones inconspicuousSelaginellaceae
Leaves coriaceous, ± linear or narrowly ovate or narrowly triangular; cones conspicuous, or rarely absent (Huperzia)Lycopodiaceae
Adder’s tongue and parsley ferns
9Stipe branching into two, one branch bearing a sterile lamina and the other bearing sporangia on a branched or unbranched stalkOphioglossaceae
Stipe undivided, or, if dichotomously branched, the branches not markedly different to each other10
Dimorphic ferns
10Plants bearing dimorphic fertile and sterile fronds, or fertile fronds with dimorphic fertile and sterile pinnae11
Plants bearing monomorphic fertile and sterile fronds, or fertile fronds with monomorphic fertile and sterile pinnae18
11Costae of sterile pinnae branching dichotomously12
Costae of sterile pinnae unbranched in pinnate fronds, or branching pinnately in more divided fronds13
12Fertile fronds with dimorphic fertile and sterile pinna segments on same frond; high-climbing fernsLygodiaceae
Fertile fronds with similar fertile and sterile pinna segments, but aerial fertile fronds markedly different to sterile basal ‘nest’ fronds; epiphytic perching fernsPolypodiaceae
13Laminae bearing bulbilsAspleniaceae
Laminae lacking bulbils14
14Fertile and sterile pinnae dimorphic, borne on same frond15
Fertile and sterile fronds dimorphic; fertile and sterile pinnae not borne on same frond16
15Sporangia confined to proximal pair of skeletonised fertile pinnae that are borne on long stalksAnemiaceae
Sporangia confined to distal portion of frond; fertile pinnae lacking long stalksOsmundaceae
16Fertile fronds 1-pinnateBlechnaceae
Fertile fronds at least 2-pinnate17
17Fronds borne on short, slender, erect trunk; rachis with a jagged wing; fertile secondary pinnae flattened, ± oblongBlechnaceae
Fronds borne on creeping rhizome; rachis lacking a jagged wing; fertile secondary pinnae rounded and bead-likeOnocleaceae
Comb ferns
18Stipe many times longer than fertile lamina, often dichotomously branched and sometimes flattenedSchizaeaceae
Stipe shorter or of similar length to fertile lamina, never dichotomously branched or flattened19
Ferns with rachis branching dichotomously
19Lamina with the rachis branching dichotomously20
Lamina entire, lobed, forked once, or branching pinnately21
20Buds absent at each rachis dichotomy; sori protected by reflexed lamina flapsPteridaceae
Buds present at each rachis dichotomy; sori unprotectedGleicheniaceae
Ferns with sporangia fused into a synangium
21Midribs of primary pinnae markedly swollen at junction with rachis; sporangia fused together in two rows into a synangium opening by a longitudinal vertical splitMarattiaceae
Midribs of primary pinnae not swollen at junction with rachis; sporangia not fused together, opening individually22
Ferns with sori on the lamina margin
22Sori situated at, or protruding from, the lamina margin23
Sori situated on abaxial lamina surface, away from lamina margin33
Ferns with sori on the lamina margin
a)    protected by cup-shaped or tubular indusia protruding from margin
23Sporangia borne on a short stalk protruding from the lamina margin within a two-flapped or tubular indusium24
Sporangia arranged in sori on the abaxial lamina surface, not protruding from margin in a two-flapped or tubular indusum25
24Lamina very thin and translucent (filmy ferns) but sometimes obscured by dense covering of hairsHymenophyllaceae
Lamina coriaceous and opaque, ± glabrousLoxsomataceae
Ferns with sori on the lamina margin
b)    on abaxial surface, not projecting from margin
25Sori protected by indusia opening away from centre of lamina segment26
Sori unprotected, or protected by inrolled lamina margin, or by cup-shaped indusia, or by membranous indusia opening towards centre of lamina segment29
26Sori enclosed in pouched indusia attached to the abaxial lamina surface on three sides; rhizomes thick, long-creeping, densely scalyDavalliaceae
Sori round, ovate or elongated along the lamina margin, not confined to pouched indusia; rhizomes erect, or if creeping, either lacking scales, or thin and scaly27
27Rhizomes erect; fronds bearing clathrate (latticed) scalesAspleniaceae
Rhizomes short- to long-creeping; fronds glabrous or hairy, not scaly28
28Lamina ± glabrous; sori elongated along lamina margin; rhizomes short- to long-creeping, scalyLindsaeaceae
Lamina hairy; sori round or ovate; rhizomes long-creeping, hairyDennstaedtiaceae
29Sori protected by inrolled lamina flap and membranous inner indusium; plants usually with tall woody trunksDicksoniaceae
Sori unprotected, or protected only by small, inrolled lamina flaps, or by the inrolled lamina margin, or by cup-shaped indusia; rhizomes erect or creeping, not forming tall woody trunks30
30Veins reticulate31
Veins free32
31Lamina glabrous; abaxial surface usually glaucous; primary pinnae sessileDennstaedtiaceae
Lamina sparsely scaly; abaxial surface green; primary pinnae stalkedPteridaceae
32Rhizomes scaly; fronds scaly, especially on stipe basesPteridaceae
Rhizomes hairy; fronds never scalyDennstaedtiaceae
Ferns not forming discrete sori
33Sporangia not in discrete sori, spread over much of abaxial pinna surface34
Sporangia in discrete sori that are round, ovate or elongated along veins36
34Lamina densely covered in woolly hairsAspleniaceae
Lamina glabrous or bearing acicular hairs35
35Fronds <150 mm longPteridaceae
Fronds >150 mm longOsmundaceae
Ferns with discrete sori away from lamina margin
a) elongated along veins at an angle to costa
36Sori elongated along veins37
Sori round, ovate or elongated parallel to the midrib40
37Sori extending along the mid-vein of each pinna segment; lamina glabrous; rhizomes hairy but not scalyPteridaceae
Sori elongated along veins at an angle to the midrib; lamina usually hairy and/or scaly; rhizomes scaly38
38Laminae <20 mm wide; indusia absent; spores greenPolypodiaceae
Laminae >20 mm wide; indusia present; spores brown39
39Scales clathrate (latticed); free margin of indusium entire, though sometimes curvedAspleniaceae
Scales non-clathrate; free margin of indusium often laciniate or toothedAthyriaceae
Ferns with discrete sori away from lamina margin
b) elongated parallel to costa
40Fronds often red-tinged; sori clearly oblong, in rows parallel to midribBlechnaceae
Fronds not red-tinged; sori round, ovate, or slightly elongated at an angle to the midrib41
Ferns with discrete sori away from lamina margin
c) round or ovate, lacking indusia
41Indusia absent42
Indusia round or reniform47
42Fertile fronds entirePolypodiaceae
Fertile fronds lobed, pinnatifid, pinnatisect, pinnate, or more divided43
43Primary pinnae or pinna lobes adnate to rachisPolypodiaceae
Primary pinnae joined to rachis by distinct stalks44
44Fronds 1-pinnate; rhizomes long-creeping or climbing; stipes jointed and swollen at their basesTectariaceae
Fronds at least 1-pinnate-pinnatifid; rhizomes erect; stipes not jointed and swollen at their bases45
45Fronds 1-pinnate-pinnatifidThelypteridaceae
Fronds at least 2-pinnate46
46Long hairs present in sorusCyatheaceae
Hairs absent from sorusDryopteridaceae
Ferns with discrete sori away from lamina margin
d) round or ovate, with round or reniform indusia
47Fertile frond 1-pinnate48
Fertile frond 1-pinnate-pinnatifid or more divided49
48Sori in one row either side of midrib, closer to margin than midribNephrolepidaceae
Sori in two or more rows either side of midrib, with at least some sori closer to midrib than marginDryopteridaceae
49Fronds bearing very scattered scales and/or hairs; indusia ovateCystopteridaceae
Fronds usually bearing abundant scales and/or hairs; indusia round or reniform50
50Fertile frond 1-pinnate-pinnatifid51
Fertile frond at least 2-pinnate52
51Rachis bearing a prominent bulbil near the apexDryopteridaceae
Rachis lacking bulbilsThelypteridaceae
52Plants with tall, woody trunks (tree ferns)Cyatheaceae
Plants lacking tall, woody trunks53
53Indusia absent, long hairs present in soriCyatheaceae
Indusia present, or if absent, long hairs absent from sori54
54Lamina densely covered in hairs 1–2 mm long, scales virtually absent; indusia <0.4 mm in diameter, reniformThelypteridaceae
Lamina lacking hairs, or hairs <1 mm long, often abundantly scaly; indusia >0.4 mm in diameter, round or reniformDryopteridaceae
Key to genera of ferns and lycophytes
Aquatic plants
1Plants aquatic2
Plants terrestrial or epiphytic6
2Plants rooted to bottom of lake or pond3
Plants free-floating on water surface5
3Leaves terminated by four ± equal fan-shaped segmentsMarsilea
Leaves stalk-like, lacking flattened segments4
4Rhizomes long-creeping; sporangia borne in round, stalked capsules attached at base of leavesPilularia
Rhizomes erect; sporangia borne in swollen bases of leavesIsoetes
5Leaves >10 mm long, green, covered in looped hairsSalvinia
Leaves c. 1 mm long, red or red-tinged (or rarely green), lacking looped hairsAzolla
Lycophytes, horsetails, and fork ferns
6Leaves or leaf-like structures arising from aerial stems, each with a single unbranched vein, <45 mm long; sporangia usually borne on adaxial surface of leaves, often in cones, or rarely on adaxial edge of forked leaves (Tmesipteris)7
Leaves or fronds arising from erect or creeping rhizomes, each with branching veins, usually >45 mm long, often much more (up to 4 m long); sporangia borne on margins or abaxial surfaces of fronds, never in cones16
7Branches arising in whorls at nodes along the stem; leaves fused laterally, forming rings at nodes along the stem Equisetum
Branches and leaves not in whorls and rings along the stem8
8Stems markedly angled; leaves reduced to tiny scales lacking veins; sporangia fused in clusters of three on adaxial surface of scalesPsilotum
Stems not markedly angled; leaves with a single unbranched vein9
9Sporangia fused in pairs on adaxial edges of forked leaf-like structures; plants usually epiphytic with pendent stems Tmesipteris
Sporangia produced singly on adaxial surfaces of leaves, never fused in pairs, usually in distinct cones (except Huperzia); plants terrestrial or epiphytic10
10Terrestrial plants; bulbils present in axils of leaves; the leaves bearing sporangia not aggregated into distinct conesHuperzia
Terrestrial or epiphytic plants; bulbils absent; the leaves bearing sporangia aggregated into distinct cones11
11Plants terrestrial, upright, stem <50 mm tall, with an underground tuber; cones single and terminal on a leafless stalk; leaves 7–20 mm long, forming a basal rosettePhylloglossum
Plants scrambling, climbing or epiphytic; or, if terrestrial and upright, stem >50 mm tall, lacking an underground tuber; cones sessile or on leafy stalks; leaves borne on elongated stems12
12Leaves herbaceous, ovate or elliptic; cones inconspicuousSelaginella
Leaves coriaceous, ± linear or narrowly ovate or narrowly triangular; cones conspicuous13
13Stems branching dichotomously, of equal thickness; plants tufted with stems erect or pendent and lacking horizontal stems; roots forming a basal tuft; leaves bearing sporangia similar to or slightly smaller than sterile leavesPhlegmariurus
Stems branching dichotomously, of unequal thickness; main stems horizontal, giving rise to branched or unbranched aerial stems; roots arising at intervals along the horizontal stems; leaves bearing strongly modified sporangia14
14Cones lateral on aerial stems, tan-brown, dark red-brown or chocolate-brownLycopodiella
Cones terminal on aerial stems, yellow-brown or orange-brown15
15Cones erect and terminating branching aerial stems, or pendulous and stalkedLycopodium
Cones erect and terminating unbranched aerial stems, or pendulous and sessileLycopodiella
Adder’s tongue and parsley ferns
16Stipe branching into two, one branch bearing a sterile lamina, the other bearing sporangia on a branched or unbranched stalk17
Stipe undivided, or, if dichotomously branched, the branches not markedly different to each other18
17Sterile blade of frond dissected once to several times; veins free; sporangia sessile or subsessile on a branched stalkBotrychium
Sterile blade of frond undivided; veins reticulate; sporangia embedded in an undivided stalkOphioglossum
Comb ferns
18Stipe many times longer than fertile lamina, often dichotomously branched and sometimes flattenedSchizaea
Stipe usually shorter or of similar length to fertile lamina, never dichotomously branched or flattened19
Dimorphic ferns
19Plants bearing dimorphic fertile and sterile fronds, or fertile fronds with dimorphic fertile and sterile pinnae20
Plants bearing monomorphic fertile and sterile fronds, or fertile fronds with monomorphic fertile and sterile pinnae27
20Costae of sterile pinnae branching dichotomously21
Costae of sterile pinnae unbranched in pinnate fronds, or branching pinnately in more divided fronds22
21Fertile fronds with dimorphic fertile and sterile pinna segments on same frond; high-climbing fernsLygodium
Fertile fronds with similar fertile and sterile pinna segments, but aerial fertile fronds markedly different to sterile basal ‘nest’ fronds; epiphytic perching fernsPlatycerium
22Laminae bearing bulbilsAsplenium
Laminae lacking bulbils23
23Fertile and sterile pinnae dimorphic, borne on same frond24
Fertile and sterile fronds dimorphic; fertile and sterile pinnae not borne on same frond25
24Sporangia confined to proximal pair of skeletonised fertile pinnae that are borne on long stalksAnemia
Sporangia confined to distal portion of frond; fertile pinnae lacking long stalksOsmunda
25Fertile fronds 1-pinnateBlechnum
Fertile fronds at least 2-pinnate26
26Fronds borne on short, slender, erect trunk; rachis with a jagged wing; fertile secondary pinnae flattened, ± oblongBlechnum
Fronds borne on creeping rhizome; rachis lacking a jagged wing; fertile secondary pinnae rounded and bead-likeOnoclea
Ferns with rachis branching dichotomously
27Lamina with the rachis branching dichotomously28
Lamina entire, lobed, forked once, or branching pinnately31
28Buds absent at each rachis dichotomy; sori protected by reflexed lamina flapsAdiantum
Buds present at each rachis dichotomy; sori unprotected29
29Ultimate lamina segments <3 mm long, bearing one sorus each; ultimate leaflets arranged pinnatelyGleichenia
Ultimate lamina segments >4 mm long, bearing more than two sori each; ultimate leaflets arranged pseudo-dichotomously30
30Ultimate lamina segments with veins between midvein and margin branched more than once; sori with 7–12 sporangia per sorus; scales absent from lamina and rhizomeDicranopteris
Ultimate lamina segments with veins between midvein and margin branched only once; sori with 3–5 sporangia per sorus; scales present, always evident on rhizome, but sometimes hair-like on laminaSticherus
Ferns with sporangia fused into a synangium
31Midribs of primary pinnae markedly swollen at junction with rachis; sporangia fused together in two rows into a synangium, opening by a longitudinal vertical slitPtisana
Midribs of primary pinnae not swollen at junction with rachis; sporangia not fused together, opening individually32
Ferns with sori on the lamina margin
32Sori situated at, or protruding from, the lamina margin33
Sori situated on abaxial lamina surface, away from lamina margin59
Ferns with sori on the lamina margin
a)    protected by cup-shaped or tubular indusia protruding from the margin
33Sporangia borne on a short stalk protruding from the lamina margin within a two-flapped or tubular indusium34
Sporangia arranged in sori on the abaxial lamina surface, not protruding from the margin in two-flapped or tubular indusia37
34Laminae coriaceous and opaque, ± glabrousLoxsoma
Laminae very thin and translucent (filmy ferns), but sometimes obscured by dense covering of hairs35
35Laminae entireHymenophyllum
Laminae pinnately or dichotomously divided36
36Indusia two-flapped; receptacles not or only slightly exserted; rhizomes nearly glabrous or only sparsely hairyHymenophyllum
Indusia tubular or bell-shaped; receptacles long-exserted; rhizomes abundantly covered in hairsTrichomanes
Ferns with sori on lamina margin
b)    protected by pouched indusia
37Sori enclosed in pouched indusia attached to the abaxial lamina surface on three sides; rhizomes thick, long-creeping, densely scalyDavallia
Sori round, ovate or elongated along the lamina margin, not confined to pouched indusia; rhizomes erect, or if creeping, either lacking scales, or thin and scaly38
Ferns with sori on the lamina margin
c)    elongated along the lamina margin
38Sori elongated along lamina margin, at least at maturity39
Sori round, ovate, or oblong, not elongated along lamina margin50
39Sori protected by elongate indusia opening away from centre of lamina segment40
Sori protected by inrolled lamina margin, or by membranous indusia opening towards centre of lamina segment, or sori unprotected41
40Rhizome short- to long-creeping; stipe and rachis red-brown; lamina ± glabrousLindsaea
Rhizome erect; stipe and rachis green or pale brown; lamina bearing clathrate (latticed) scalesAsplenium
41Sori ± unprotected; fronds pinnate; pinnae jointed to rachisPellaea
Sori protected by unmodified inrolled lamina margin, or by a membranous indusium; frond usually at least 2-pinnate; pinnae not jointed to rachis42
42Stipe and rachis bearing glandular hairsPaesia
Stipe and rachis lacking glandular hairs43
43Veins reticulate44
Veins free45
44Lamina glabrous; abaxial surface usually glaucous; primary pinnae sessileHistiopteris
Lamina sparsely scaly; abaxial surface green; primary pinnae stalkedPteris
45Laminae 1-pinnatePteris
Laminae 2–4-pinnate46
46Stipe and rachis uniformly red-brown or dark brown47
Stipe and rachis green to yellow-brown, except sometimes dark brown at stipe base49
47Stipes longer than laminae; abaxial lamina surface bearing long orange hairsMyriopteris
Stipes shorter than laminae; abaxial lamina surface either glabrous, scaly, or bearing white or dark brown hairs48
48Sori protected by strongly reflexed, membranous, lamina flaps that are slightly elongated along the margin; abaxial lamina surface glabrous or bearing dark brown hairsAdiantum
Sori protected by inrolled, green lamina flaps, sometimes becoming membranous at their apices; abaxial lamina surface bearing pale hairs or scalesCheilanthes
49Rhizome erect to short-creeping; ultimate lamina segments glabrous and often toothed near their apicesPteris
Rhizome long-creeping; ultimate lamina segments hairy and entirePteridium
Ferns with sori on the lamina margin
d)    not elongated along lamina margin
50Sori protected by ± cup-shaped indusia, or indusia opening away from centre of lamina segment51
Sori protected by inrolled marginal lamina segments (sometimes also with a true inner indusium), or sori almost unprotected55
51Indusia ovate or ± cup-shaped52
Indusia oblong or slightly elongated along the margin54
52Indusia ovate, attached to lamina at base with two free lateral marginsLeptolepia
Indusia ± cup-shaped, attached to lamina by base and sides53
53Laminae 2–3-pinnate-pinnatifid, 200–500 mm long; abaxial lamina surfaces abundantly hairyMicrolepia
Laminae deeply 3-pinnate-pinnatifid to 4-pinnate; 400–1350 mm long; abaxial lamina surfaces sparsely hairyDennstaedtia
54Laminae 2-pinnate to 3-pinnate-pinnatifid; stipes red- or purple-brownLindsaea
Laminae 3–4-pinnate; stipes pale brownOdontosoria
55Ultimate lamina segments with distinct stalksAdiantum
Ultimate lamina segments lacking distinct stalks, adnate to midrib56
56Each sorus protected by an inrolled lamina flap and a membranous inner indusium; rhizome forming an aerial woody trunk, or rarely thick and prostrateDicksonia
Each sorus unprotected, or protected only by a small, inrolled lamina flap; rhizome long-creeping or, if erect, not aerial or woody57
57Stipes and rachises red-brown; laminae bearing hair-like scales, lacking glandular or acicular hairsCheilanthes
Stipes and rachises mostly green to chestnut-brown; or, if red-brown, bearing glandular hairs; laminae lacking scales58
58Veins reaching lamina margin at an indentation; primary pinnae arising at c. 90° to rachis; groove on adaxial surface of primary pinnae confluent with that of rachisHiya
Veins reaching margin at a lamina extension; primary pinnae arising at acute angle to rachis; groove on adaxial surface of primary pinnae not confluent with that of rachisHypolepis
Ferns not forming discrete sori
59Sporangia not in discrete sori, spread over much of abaxial pinna surface60
Sporangia in discrete sori, at least when immature; sori round, ovate or elongated63
60Lamina densely covered in woolly hairsAsplenium
Lamina glabrous or bearing acicular hairs61
61Fronds <150 mm longAnogramma
Fronds >150 mm long62
62Laminae 2-pinnate, coriaceous, opaque; sporangia confined to proximal pinnaeTodea
Laminae 2-pinnate-pinnatifid, membranous, translucent; sporangia present on most pinnaeLeptopteris
Ferns with discrete sori away from lamina margin
a) sori elongated along veins
63Sori elongated along veins64
Sori round, ovate or elongated parallel to the midrib69
64Sori extending along the mid-vein of each pinna segment; lamina glabrous; rhizomes hairy but not scalyAnogramma
Sori elongated along veins at an angle to the midrib; lamina usually hairy and/or scaly; rhizomes scaly65
65Laminae <20 mm wide; indusia absent; spores greenNotogrammitis
Laminae >20 mm wide; indusia present; spores brown66
66Scales clathrate (latticed); free margin of indusium entire, though sometimes curvedAsplenium
Scales non-clathrate; free margin of indusium often laciniate or toothed67
67Laminae bearing hairs; groove on adaxial surface of rachis not open and confluent with grooves of pinna midribsDeparia
Laminae lacking hairs; groove on adaxial surface of rachis open and confluent with grooves of pinna midribs68
68Sori linear, single on veins, or bent across the vein at one end, not paired back-to-back; veins always free; groove on adaxial surface of rachis V-shaped; rhizomes always erectAthyrium
Sori linear, either single or paired back-to-back along veins; veins free or rarely reticulate; groove on adaxial surface of rachis U-shaped; rhizomes erect or rarely long-creepingDiplazium
Ferns with discrete sori away from lamina margin
b) sori elongated parallel to midrib
69Fronds often red-tinged; sori clearly oblong, in rows parallel to midribBlechnum
Fronds not red-tinged; sori round, ovate, or slightly elongated at an angle to the midrib70
Ferns with discrete sori away from lamina margin
c) sori round or ovate, lacking indusia
70Indusia absent71
Indusia round or reniform83
71Fertile fronds entire72
Fertile fronds lobed, pinnatifid, pinnate or more divided76
72Abaxial surface of lamina densely covered in stellate hairsPyrrosia
Abaxial surface of lamina almost glabrous73
73Sori arranged in single rows of several sori between main lateral veinsNiphidium
Sori in one row either side of midrib74
74Laminae <40 mm long; veins freeNotogrammitis
Laminae >40 mm long; veins reticulate75
75Fronds arising in tufts from rhizome; areoles of reticulate veins lacking free included veinlets; hydathodes absentLoxogramme
Fronds arising individually at intervals along the rhizome; areoles of reticulate veins with free included veinlets; hydathodes visible on adaxial lamina surfaceLecanopteris
76Primary pinnae or pinna lobes adnate to rachis77
Primary pinnae joined to rachis by distinct stalks79
77Ultimate lamina segments 1–2 mm wide; laminae 1–2-pinnatifid; sori slightly elongate, 1–2 mm longNotogrammitis
Ultimate lamina segments 3–30 mm wide; laminae 1-pinnatifid to 1-pinnate; sori round, 1–5 mm long78
78Laminae deeply pinnatifid, but not divided completely to rachis; lamina lobes entire or sinuate but not serrateLecanopteris
Laminae pinnatisect, divided completely to rachis in at least the proximal third; pinna margins minutely serratePolypodium
79Fronds 1-pinnate; rhizomes long-creeping or climbing; stipes jointed and swollen at their basesArthropteris
Fronds at least 1-pinnate-pinnatifid; rhizomes erect; stipes not jointed and swollen at their bases80
80Fronds 1-pinnate-pinnatifid81
Fronds at least 2-pinnate82
81All veins free; stipe and rachis red-brownPseudophegopteris
At least the basal pair of veins in each pinna segment uniting with those from adjacent segments; stipe and rachis green to pale brownPneumatopteris
82Long hairs present in sorusCyathea
Hairs absent from sorusPolystichum
Ferns with discrete sori away from lamina margin
d) sori round or ovate, with round or reniform indusia
83Fertile frond 1-pinnate84
Fertile frond 1-pinnate-pinnatifid or more divided86
84Sori in one row either side of midrib, closer to margin than midribNephrolepis
Sori in two or more rows either side of midrib, with at least some sori closer to midrib than margin85
85Veins reticulate; indusia roundCyrtomium
Veins free; indusia reniformDryopteris
86Fronds bearing very scattered scales and/or hairs; indusia ovateCystopteris
Fronds usually bearing abundant scales and/or hairs; indusia round or reniform87
87Fertile frond 1-pinnate-pinnatifid88
Fertile frond at least 2-pinnate91
88Rachis bearing a prominent bulbil near the apexPolystichum
Rachis lacking bulbils89
89All veins freeThelypteris
At least the basal pair of veins in each pinna segment uniting with those from adjacent segments90
90Basal pair of pinnae much shorter than those at mid-laminaChristella
Basal pair of pinnae about as long as those at mid-laminaCyclosorus
91Plants with tall, woody trunks (tree ferns)Cyathea
Plants lacking tall, woody trunks92
92Lamina densely covered in hairs 1–2 mm long, scales virtually absent; indusia <0.4 mm in diameterMacrothelypteris
Lamina lacking hairs, or hairs <1 mm long, often abundantly scaly; indusia >0.4 mm in diameter, round or reniform93
93Indusia round94
Indusia reniform95
94Rhizome erect; ultimate lamina segments acute or acuminate; bulbils occasionally presentPolystichum
Rhizome long-creeping; ultimate lamina segments obtuse or round-ended; bulbils absentRumohra
95Lamina bearing hairs96
Lamina lacking hairs98
96Stipes and rachises bearing bristle-like scales with bulbous basesLastreopsis
Stipes and rachises bearing flattened scales without bulbous bases97
97Stipes, rachises and laminae densely covered in soft brown hairs on both surfaces; lamina velvetyLastreopsis
Stipes, rachises and laminae bearing red or whitish hairs, often sparse on abaxial surfaces; lamina soft, but not velvetyParapolystichum
98Rhizomes long-creeping; plants confined to Kermadec IslandsArachniodes
Rhizomes erect or short-creeping; plants of the main islands of New ZealandDryopteris
 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
Number of species and named hybrids in New Zealand within Polypodiopsida
CategoryNumber
Indigenous (Endemic)89
Indigenous (Non-endemic)104
Exotic: Fully Naturalised26
Exotic: Casual35
Total254
 Bibliography
Brownsey, P.J. & Perrie, L.R. 2022: Keys to families and genera. In: Breitwieser, I. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand — Ferns and Lycophytes. Fascicle II. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Mabberley, D.J. 2008: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press.
Pichi Sermolli, R.E.G. 1977: Tentamen Pteridophytorum genera in taxonomicum ordinem redigendi. Webbia 31: 313–512. [as Filicopsida]
Ruggiero, M.A.; Gordon, D.P.; Orrell, T.M.; Bailly, N.; Bourgoin, T.; Brusca, R.C.; Cavalier-Smith, T.; Guiry, M.D.; Kirk, P.M. 2015: A higher level classification of all living organisms. PLOS ONE 10(4): 1–60.
Smith, A.R.; Pryer, K.M.; Schuettpelz, E.; Korall, P.; Schneider, H.; Wolf, P.G. 2006: A classification for extant ferns. Taxon 55(3): 705–731.