Polystichum Roth is one of the largest and most taxonomically challenging fern genera. South American species have a rich and complex nomenclatural history; many of the early names are inadequately typified. Based on extensive examination of original type material, we designate eleven lectotypes (including Aspidium mohrioides, Aspidium montevidense f. imbricata, Aspidium montevidense f. squamul...

Polystichum has often been treated as a sub-cosmopolitan genus of 180-230 species (i.e., Polystichum s.l.), but several segregate genera, such as Cyrtogonellum, Cyrtomidictyum, Cyrtomium, Phanerophlebia, and Sorolepidium, have been recognized in various treatments. Together, these genera constitute the polystichoid ferns. We used a data set of 47 species of the polystichoid ferns and three outg...

A genus-wide molecular phylogeny for Polystichum and allied genera (Dryopteridaceae) was reconstructed to address the biogeographic origin and evolution of the three Hawaiian Polystichum species, all endemic there. The analysis was based on the cpDNA sequences rbcL and the trnL-F spacer from a taxonomically and geographically diverse sample. Parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of the c...

Abstract The characteristics of shaded chasmophytic habitats on calcareous rocks in forest conditions are described, where the canopy primarily acts as a shading factor that determines microclimate, humidity and light levels. These communities can be found deciduous forests Carpinion betuli , Fagion sylvaticae Tilio-Acerion alliances, they confined to steep rock faces cliffs. Syntaxonomically, ...

Polystichum squarrosum fern fed (30% w/w) rats showed moderate mortality, decrease in body weight, less body fat and splenomegaly. On post-mortem examination, significant gross lesions were not seen in sacrificed animals. Histopathologically, Polystichum fed rats showed dilated Virchow Robin's space in brain, mild to moderate vascular changes likeoedema, engorgement of blood vessels and haemorr...