Family · Ferns & allies
Polypodiaceae
Polypodies
Largely epiphytic ferns with creeping rhizomes and round sori lacking indusia; includes staghorn ferns.
- Accepted species
- 4,578accepted names · Kew WCVP
- Genera
- 68accepted genera · Kew WCVP
- Origin
- ≈29 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
- Centre of diversity
- Southern Americamost native species · WGSRPD
Open Polypodiaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.›
Plants you might know
- Polypodium
- Platycerium
- Pleopeltis
Largest genera
Elaphoglossum776 spp.
Grammitis707 spp.
Polystichum481 spp.
Dryopteris437 spp.
Tectaria276 spp.
Ctenitis147 spp.
Selliguea126 spp.
Pleopeltis107 spp.
Megalastrum101 spp.
Arachniodes97 spp.
Lepisorus82 spp.
Bolbitis74 spp.
Pyrrosia70 spp.
Davallia66 spp.
Campyloneurum63 spp.
Polypodium60 spp.
Lomariopsis53 spp.
Leptochilus52 spp.
Pecluma52 spp.
Serpocaulon48 spp.
Cyrtomium40 spp.
Polybotrya40 spp.
Loxogramme37 spp.
Nephrolepis35 spp.
Drynaria34 spp.
Microgramma34 spp.
Microsorum34 spp.
Goniophlebium32 spp.
Oleandra30 spp.
Parapolystichum30 spp.
Triplophyllum29 spp.
Stigmatopteris26 spp.
Lecanopteris24 spp.
Didymochlaena22 spp.
Pteridrys22 spp.
Lastreopsis21 spp.
Pleocnemia21 spp.
Lomagramma18 spp.
Platycerium18 spp.
Arthropteris16 spp.
Cyclodium13 spp.
Polystichopsis13 spp.
Teratophyllum13 spp.
Phymatosorus12 spp.
Rumohra12 spp.
Mickelia11 spp.
Niphidium11 spp.
Phanerophlebia10 spp.
Cyclopeltis7 spp.
Polydictyum4 spp.
Bosmania3 spp.
Hypoderris3 spp.
Phlebodium3 spp.
Synammia3 spp.
Thylacopteris3 spp.
Cyclobotrya2 spp.
Dictymia2 spp.
Dracoglossum2 spp.
Draconopteris2 spp.
Dryostichum2 spp.
The 8 smaller genera are in the interactive tree.
Where it grows
- Southern America1,722
- Asia-Tropical1,438
- Asia-Temperate1,081
- Africa439
- Northern America390
- Pacific303
- Australasia133
- Europe68
- Antarctic25
Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.
Related families
Polypodiaceae sits in the order Polypodiales.