Osmundaceous ferns

Family: Osmundaceae

Two species native to southern Africa : Osmunda regalis and Todea barbara.

filmy ferns

Family: Hymenophyllaceae

Five genera and 11 species native to southern Africa .

gleichenoid ferns

Family: Gleicheniaceae

Two genera (Dicranopteris and Gleichenia) and three species native to southern Africa .

Core leptosporangiates

schizaeoid ferns

Family: Anemiaceae

Two genera (Anemia and Mohria) and eight species native to southern Africa .

Family: Lygodiaceae

Two species in southern Africa: Lygodium japonicum (naturalised) and Lygodium microphyllum (indigenous).

Family: Schizaeaceae

Schizaea pectinata and Schizaea tenella are native to southern Africa.

heterosporous ferns

Family: Azollaceae

Aquatic ferns with one genus (Azolla) and two species native to southern Africa . One of the species, Azolla filiculoides (Azolla, Red water fern, Rooiwatervaring), is naturalised in the region and is a declared Category 1 invader plant in South Africa.

Family: Marsilleaceae

Two genera (Marsilea and Pilularia) and 17 species native to southern Africa .

Family: Salviniaceae

Salvinia molesta (Kariba weed) is naturalised in southern Africa and is a declared Category 1 invasive plant in South Africa.

tree ferns

Family: Cyatheaceae

One genus (Cyathea) and two species native to southern Africa .

polypod ferns

Family: Aspleniaceae

One genus (Asplenium) and 35 species native to southern Africa .

Family: Blechnaceae

Two indigenous genera (Blechnum and Stenochlaena) with seven species in southern Africa. In addition, Doodia squarrosa is naturalised in the region.

Family: Davalliaceae

One species, Davallia denticulata, native to southern Africa.

Family: Dennstaedtiaceae

Five genera and seven species native to southern Africa .

Family: Dryopteridaceae

Seven genera and 20 species native to southern Africa

Family: Grammitidaceae

Two species (Grammitis poeppigiana and Melpomene flabellliformis) native to southern Africa.

Family: Lindsaeaceae

One species, Lindsaea ensifolia, native to southern Africa.

Family: Lomariopsidaceae

Two genera (Bolbitis and Elaphoglossum) and nine species native to southern Africa .

Family: Nephrolepidaceae

One indigenous species (Nephrolepis biserrata) and one naturalised species (Nephrolepis exaltata - Sword fern, Swaardvaring) in southern Africa. The latter species is a declared Category 3 invasive plant in South Africa.

Family: Oleandraceae

Two indigenous species in southern Africa: Arthropteris monocarpa and Oleandra distenta.

Family: Parkeriaceae

One species, Ceratopteris thalictroides, is native to southern Africa.

Family: Polypodiaceae

Seven genera, 13 species indigenous and two species naturalised in southern Africa.

Family: Pteridaceae

Nine genera and 52 species native to southern Africa , with an additional three species that are naturlised to the region.

Family: Tectariaceae

Two species native to southern Africa : Megalastrum lanuginosum and Tectaria gemmifera.

Family: Thelypteridaceae

Eight genera and 15 species native to southern Africa . An additional genus and species, Macrothelypteris torresiana, is naturalised in the region.

Family: Vittariaceae

One species, Vittaria isoetifolia, native to southern Africa.

Family: Woodsiaceae

Five indigenous genera to southern Africa, with seven indigenous species and one naturalised species. An additional genus and species, Deparia japonica, is naturalised in the region.