Polystichum Roth
Sori dorsal on veins, indusium peltate (rarely absent); sporangia stalked, annulus incomplete, vertical. Spores bilateral, ± oblong, us. tuberculate. Rhizome short, branched, ascending, paleate; stipites densely tufted, paleate. Lamina anadromic, pinnate to decompound, segs us. aristate. Mainly terrestrial ferns with some 180 spp. of wide distribution.
Key
2
Paleae linear-attenuate, very dark; lamina very dark to olive-green; indusium c. 1 mm. diam., with conspicuous dark centre and pale margin
Paleae ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, dark to pale brown; lamina dark to bright green; indusium barely 1 mm. diam., without conspicuous dark centre, or absent
3
Indusium absent (rarely some minute ones present); stipes slender; lamina seldom > 40 cm. long, pinnae rather distant
Indusium present (rarely some sori without indusia); stipes stout; lamina mostly > 40 cm. long, pinnae rather close
