Dryopteridaceae

Dryopteridaceae is a family of ferns that includes wood ferns, shield ferns, and related genera. Its members are chiefly terrestrial, with sori commonly borne on the undersides of fronds.

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Fern: A seedless vascular plant that reproduces by spores and usually bears divided leaves called fronds. Dryopteridaceae belongs to the major plant group known as ferns.
Fern life cycle: The alternation between a spore-producing fern plant and a small, sexually reproducing gametophyte. Dryopteridaceae follows the characteristic fern alternation of generations.
Dryopteris: A genus of terrestrial ferns commonly known as wood ferns. Dryopteris is the namesake genus and a prominent member of Dryopteridaceae.
Athyriaceae: A family of ferns that includes lady ferns and several related genera. Athyriaceae is treated separately from Dryopteridaceae in classifications that recognize both families.
Ostrich fern fiddlehead: The tightly coiled young frond of ostrich fern, eaten as a seasonal vegetable when properly prepared. Matteuccia struthiopteris is a dryopteridaceous fern valued for its edible young shoots.
Frond: A large leaf of a fern or palm, often divided into smaller segments. Frond shape and division are central to identifying many members of this family.
Spore: A reproductive cell that can develop into a new organism without fusing with another cell. Spores released from dryopteridaceous sori disperse and begin the fern’s next generation.
Polystichum: A genus of ferns commonly known as shield ferns. Its many species illustrate the family’s diversity of evergreen and deciduous fronds.
Thelypteridaceae: A family of ferns that includes the marsh fern genus Thelypteris and its relatives. Its many divided-frond species can resemble dryopteridaceous ferns despite belonging to a separate family.
Horticulture: The cultivation of plants for gardens, landscapes, and other human uses. Many Dryopteridaceae are grown as ornamental foliage plants in shaded gardens.