PTERIDACEAE (Maidenhair Fern Family)

This page is still under construction, below is a key to the genera that may be useful.

References: Lellinger (1985); Windham in FNA (1993b).

A family of about 40 genera and about 1000 species.

1. Sori round or oblong, distinct and separate along the pinnule margins; leaves bright-green, glabrous, herbaceous, delicate, and flexible......Adiantum

2. Leaves 2-3-pinnate, the ultimate leaf-segments 1-4 (-8) mm long, more-or-less densely hairy (glabrous in C. alabamensis) ......Cheilanthes
2. Leaves 1-2-pinnate, the ultimate leaf-segments 8-100 mm long, glabrous or sparsely and inconspicuously hairy......3

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Flora of the Carolinas and Virginia, Working Draft of 27 October 1997 -- KEY TO PTERIDOPHYTE GENERA. Alan S. Weakley. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Southern Conservation Science Department.