Family: Thelypteridaceae

This is a huge family, with representatives world-wide. The thelypterioid ferns are a prime example of explosive evolutionary radiation, with a confusing myriad of species that often stumps even the experts.

Five genera are listed here. Phegopteris and Macrothelypteris are fairly easy to distinguish from the rest, but the other genera are somewhat more arcane.

Chromosome counts are quite variable in this family.

Genera of Thelypteridaceae:

1. Cyclosorus
2. Goniopteris
3. Macrothelypteris
4. Phegopteris
5. Thelypteris