GENERA (50+) are grouped in six tribes. The Tribe Peranemeae includes Acrophorus, Nothoperanema, Peranema, and Stenolepia. The Tribe Dryopterideae includesCtenitis, Tectaria, Dryopteris, and Polystichum. The Tribe Physematieae includes Athryium and Diplazium.
SORI are round to very long-linear, and borne on the lower surface of leaves in a receptacle on a vein or at a vein-tip. Indusiate, they are rarely stalked.
SPORANGIA are short- to long-stalked. The annulus is vertical, or nearly so, and interrupted by the stalk.
SPORES are homosporous, and usually lack chlorophyll. They are consistently monolete.
STEMS may be erect (only rarely arborescent), decumbent, or long-creeping. Stout to very slender, they are usually indurated, and bear scales.
PETIOLES lack stipules, and are only rarely laterally expanded.
LEAVES may be entire, lobed, or (usually) pinnate. Circinate in bud, they range in length from 1 cm to 3 m.
THE VASCULAR CYLINDER is dictyostelic.
THE GAMETOPHYTE is
epigeal, and photosynthetic. Obcordate to ligulate, it is at least
slightly thickened centrally, and rarely branched. The gametophyte
may be glabrous, or with glands or trichomes. Antheridia are borne
on the lower surface, either among or apart from the centrally
borne archegonia.
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