Polystichum

Polystichum
Polystichum setiferum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pteridophyta
Class:	Pteridopsida
Order:	Polypodiales
Family:	Dryopteridaceae
Genus:	Polystichum Roth 1800
Species
See text.
Synonyms
Acropelta T.Nakai 1953 Adenoderris J.Sm. 1875 Aetopteron Ehrh. ex House 1920 Hemesteum H.Lév. 1915 Hypopeltis Michx. 1803 Papuapteris C. Chr. 1937 Phanerophlebia C. Presl 1836 Plecosorus Fée 1852 Sorolepidium Christ 1911[1]

Polystichum is a genus of about 260 species of ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution. The highest diversity is in eastern Asia, with about 120 species in China alone; the region from Mexico to Brazil has nearly 100 additional species; Africa (17 species), North America (15 species), and Europe (5 species) have much lower diversity. Polystichum species are terrestrial or rock-dwelling ferns of warm-temperate and montane-tropical regions (a few species grow in alpine regions).

Description

Polystichum setiferum 'Plumosum densum'

Many ferns of this genus have stout, slowly creeping rootstocks that form a crown, with a vase-like ring of evergreen fronds 30 to 200 centimetres (10 to 80 in) long. The sori are round, with a circular indusium. The stipes have prominent scales. The genus differs from the well-known and allied fern genus Dryopteris in the indusium being circular, not reniform, and in having the leaf blades with asymmetrical segments—one side of the segment is much longer than the other at the base.

Cultivation

Several species are grown as ornamental plants in gardens. One species, Polystichum tsus-simense of eastern Asia, is commonly offered as a houseplant.

Hybrids

Hybridisation is frequent in the genus, with several named hybrids, including:-

• P. × bicknellii (P. aculeatum × P. setiferum)
• P. × illyricum (P. aculeatum × P. lonchitis)
• P. × lonchitiforme (P. lonchitis × P. setiferum)
• P. × lesliei (P. setiferum × P. munitum) first found in Surrey in 1995 and a second plant found in Cornwall in 2001.^[2]

Ecology

Polystichum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Pharmacis fusconebulosa. Specimens of some of these can be found at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.

Selected species

The genus Polystichum includes, but is not limited to, the following species. In this list, a species name preceded by (=) is considered to be a synonym of the accepted species name above it.

• Polystichum acanthophyllum (Franch.) H. Christ 1905
• Polystichum acrostichoides (Michx.) Schott 1834 – Christmas Fern
• Polystichum aculeatum (L.) Roth ex Mert. 1800 – Hard Shield Fern
• Polystichum acutidens H.Christ 1902
• Polystichum acutipinnulum Ching & K.H.Shing 1981
  (=) Polystichum wuyishanense Ching & K.H.Shing 1981
• Polystichum alcicorne (Baker) Diels 1900
• Polystichum aleuticum C.Chr. 1936 – Aleutian Shield Fern
• Polystichum andersonii Hopkins 1913 – Anderson's Hollyfern^[3]
• Polystichum atkinsonii Bedd. 1876
• Polystichum australiense Tindale 1954
• Polystichum bakerianum (Atk. ex C.B.Clarke) Diels 1899
• Polystichum biaristatum (Blume) T.Moore 1858
• Polystichum bomiense Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
• Polystichum bonseyi W.H.Wagner & Hobdy 1993^[4] – Bonsey's Hollyfern^[5]
• Polystichum brachypterum (J.F.Gmel.) C.Chr. 1906 – Rusty Swordfern^[6]
• Polystichum braunii (Spenner) Fée 1852 – Braun's Shield Fern, Braun's Hollyfern^[7]
• Polystichum brachypterum (Kunze) Ching 1983^[8]
  (=) Polystichum garhwalicum N.C.Nair & Nag 1976
• Polystichum calderonense Proctor 1989 – Monte Guilarte Hollyfern
• Polystichum californicum Diels 1899 – California Sword Fern
• Polystichum capillipes (Baker) Diels 1899^[9]
  (=) Polystichum michelii H.Christ 1910
  (=) Polystichum minusculum H.Christ 1905
  (=) Polystichum molliculum H.Christ 1911
• Polystichum castaneum (C.B.Clarke) B.K.Nayar & S.Kaur 1972
• Polystichum chilense (H.Chr.) Diels 1899
• Polystichum christii Ching 1931
• Polystichum chunii Ching 1929
• Polystichum craspedosorum (Maxim.) Diels 1899
• Polystichum cyclolobum C.Chr. 1916
• Polystichum cystostegia (Hook.) J.B.Armstr. 1881 – Alpine Shield Fern
• Polystichum deltodon (Baker) Diels 1899
• Polystichum dielsii H.Christ 1906
• Polystichum discretum (D.Don) J.Sm. 1841
• Polystichum drepanum (Sw.) C.Presl
• Polystichum dudleyi Maxon 1918 – Dudley's Sword Fern
• Polystichum duthiei (C.Hope) C.Chr. 1906
  (=) Polystichum tsuchuense Ching 1974
• Polystichum echinatum (J.F.Gmel.) C.Chr. 1906 – Rusty Swordfern^[10]
• Polystichum erosum Ching 1965
• Polystichum excellens Ching 1958
• Polystichum eximium (Mett. ex Kuhn) C.Chr. 1933
  (=) Polystichum tialooshanense Ching 1964
• Polystichum falcatipinnum Hayata 1914
• Polystichum falcinellum C.Presl 1836
• Polystichum fallax Tindale 1955
• Polystichum formosanum Rosenst. 1915
• Polystichum glandulosum C.Presl 1836
• Polystichum gongboense Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
  (=) Polystichum rarum Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
• Polystichum grandifrons C.Chr. 1934
  (=) Polystichum kiusiuense Tagawa 1953^[11]
• Polystichum gymnocarpium Ching ex W.M.Chu & Z.R.He 2001
• Polystichum haleakalense Brack. 1854 – Island Swordfern^[12]
• Polystichum hancockii (Hance) Diels 1899
• Polystichum hecatopteron Diels 1900
• Polystichum herbaceum Ching & Z.Y.Liu 1984
• Polystichum imbricans (D.C. Eaton)D.H.Wagner 1979 – Narrowleaf Sword Fern
• Polystichum incongruum J.P. Roux 1997
• Polystichum kruckebergii W.H.Wagner 1966 – Kruckeberg's Sword Fern/Holly Fern
• Polystichum kwakiutlii D.H.Wagner 1990
• Polystichum lachenense (Hook.) Bedd. 1865
• Polystichum lanceolatum Baker 1880
• Polystichum lemmonii Underw. 1900 – Lemmon's Holly Fern, Shasta Fern
• Polystichum lentum (D. Don) T. Moore 1858
• Polystichum lonchitis (L.) Roth 1799 – Holly Fern
• Polystichum longidens Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
• Polystichum longipaleatum H.Christ 1909
• Polystichum longipes Maxon 1909
• Polystichum luctuosum (Kunze) T. Moore 1858 – Mourning Shield Fern
• Polystichum macleae (Baker) Diels 1899^[13]
• Polystichum macrochlaenum Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
• Polystichum makinoi (Tagawa) Tagawa 1936
• Polystichum martini H.Christ 1902
• Polystichum mayebarae Tagawa 1934
• Polystichum mediocre Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
• Polystichum medogense Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
• Polystichum microchlamys (H.Christ) Matsum. 1904
• Polystichum mohrioides (Bory ex Willd.) C.Presl 1836
• Polystichum mollissimum Ching 1983^[14]
• Polystichum monticola N.C.Anthony & Schelpe 1985 – Mountain Shield Fern
• Polystichum moorei H.Christ 1903
• Polystichum morii Hayata 1918
• Polystichum moupinense (Franch.) Bedd. 1892
  (=) Polystichum woodsioides H.Christ 1911
• Polystichum munitum (Kaulf.) C. Presl 1836 – Western Sword Fern
  (=) Polystichum solitarium (Maxon) Underw. ex Maxon 1908
• Polystichum muricatum (L.) Fée 1852
  (=) Polystichum moritzianum (Klotzsch) Hieron. 1907
• Polystichum nakenense Ching^[15]
• Polystichum neolobatum Nakai 1925^[16]
  (=) Polystichum assurgens Ching & S.K. Wu 1983
  (=) Polystichum yigongense Ching & S.K. Wu 1983
• Polystichum nepalense (Spreng.) C.Chr. 1906
  (=) Polystichum atroviridissimum Hayata 1914
• Polystichum ningshenense Ching & Y.P.Hsu 1961
• Polystichum obliquum (D.Don.) T.Moore 1958
• Polystichum omeiense C.Chr. 1906
  (=) Polystichum carvifolium (Baker) Diels 1900
• Polystichum ordinatum (Kunze) Liebm. 1849
  (=) Polystichum bicolor A.R.Sm. 1975^[17]
• Polystichum orientalitibeticum Ching 1983
• Polystichum paramoupinense Ching 1983
• Polystichum parvipinnulum Tagawa 1937
• Polystichum piceopaleaceum Tagawa 1936
• Polystichum polyblepharum (Roem. ex Kunze) C.Presl 1851 – Tassel Fern
  (=) Polystichum aculeatum var. japonicum (Franch. & Sav.) Diels 1899
  (=) Polystichum setosum (Wall.) Schott 1834
• Polystichum prescottianum (Wall. ex Mett.) T. Moore 1858
  (=) Polystichum erinaceum Ching & S.K.Wu 1983^[18]
• Polystichum prionolepis Hayata 1914
  (=) Polystichum rectipinnum Hayata 1914
• Polystichum proliferum – Mother Shield fern
• Polystichum pseudocastaneum Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
  (=) Polystichum brunneum Ching & S.K.Wu 1983^[19]
• Polystichum pseudomakinoi Tagawa 1936
• Polystichum punctiferum C. Chr. 1931
  (=) Polystichum glingense Ching & Y.X.Ling 1984
  (=) Polystichum virescens Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
• Polystichum pungens (Kaulf.) C.Presl 1836 – Forest Shield Fern
  (=) Polystichum lucidum (Burm.f.) Bech. 1937
• Polystichum qamdoense Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
  (=) Polystichum tumbatzense Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
• Polystichum retrosopaleaceum (Kodama) Tagawa 1937
  (=) Polystichum aculeatum var. retrosopaleaceum Kodama 1915
• Polystichum rhombiforme Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
• Polystichum rhomboidea (Schott) Ching 1964
  (=) Polystichum rhomboideum Schott 1834
• Polystichum richardii (Hook.) J.Sm. 1875 – Common Shield Fern
• Polystichum rigens Tagawa 1937
  (=) Polystichum platychlamys Ching 1974
• Polystichum rotundilobum Ching
• Polystichum scopulinum (D.C. Eaton) Maxon 1900 – Mountain Holly Fern, Rock Sword Fern
  (=) Polystichum mohrioides var. scopulinum (D.C. Eaton) Fernald 1924
• Polystichum semifertile (C.B. Clarke) Ching 1936
  (=) Polystichum nyalamense Ching 1983
• Polystichum setiferum (Forssk.) Moore ex Woyn. 1913 – Soft Shield Fern
  (=) Polystichum angulare (Willd.) C. Presl 1836
• Polystichum setigerum (C. Presl) C. Presl – Alaska Hollyfern^[20]
• Polystichum shensiense H. Christ 1906
  (=) Polystichum lichiangense (C.H. Wright) Ching ex H.S. Kung 1989^[21]
• Polystichum silvaticum (Colenso) Diels 1899
• Polystichum simplicipinnum Hayata 1915
• Polystichum sinense (H.Christ) H.Christ 1905^[22]
  (=) Polystichum atuntzeense Ching 1983
  (=) Polystichum austrotibeticum Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
  (=) Polystichum decorum Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
  (=) Polystichum ellipticum Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
  (=) Polystichum fukuyamae Tagawa 1937
  (=) Polystichum lhasaense Ching 1983
  (=) Polystichum parasinense Cheng-yuan Yang 1972
  (=) Polystichum wilsoni H.Christ 1911
• Polystichum squarrosum (D.Don) Fée 1852
  (=) Polystichum apicisterile Ching & S.K.Wu 1983^[23]
  (=) Polystichum integripinnulum Ching 1983^[24]
• Polystichum stenophyllum H.Christ 1905
  var. conaense (=) Polystichum conaense Ching & S.K.Wu 1983^[25]
• Polystichum stimulans (Kunze ex Mett.) Bedd. 1865
  (=) Polystichum ilicifolium (D. Don) T. Moore 1858^[26]
• Polystichum submite (H. Christ) Diels 1900
  (=) Polystichum paradoxum Ching & Y.P.Hsu 1974
• Polystichum tacticopterum (Kunze) T. Moore 1858
  (=) Polystichum heteropaleaceum N.C. Nair & Nag 1978^[27]
  (=) Polystichum kodamae Tagawa 1937^[28]
• Polystichum thomsoni (Hook.f.) Bedd. 1866
• Polystichum tibeticum Ching 1983
• Polystichum transvaalense N.C.Anthony 1982 – Stemmed Shield Fern
• Polystichum tripteron (Kunze) C.Presl 1851
• Polystichum tsus-simense (Hook.) J.Sm. 1875 – Korean Rock Fern
  (=) Polystichum falcilobum Ching 1983
• Polystichum vestitum (G.Forst.) C.Presl 1836 – Prickly Shield Fern
• Polystichum wattii (Bedd.) C.Chr. 1906
• Polystichum whiteleggei Watts 1914
• Polystichum xiphophyllum (Baker) Diels 1899^[29]
  (=) Polystichum monotis (H.Christ) C. Chr. 1906
  (=) Polystichum praelongum H.Christ 1902
• Polystichum yadongense Ching & S.K.Wu 1983
• Polystichum yunnanense H.Christ 1909
  (=) Polystichum gyirongense Ching 1983^[30]
  (=) Polystichum jizhushanense Ching 1983^[31]

Polystichum munitum

Former species

Species that were at one time considered part of the Polystichum genus, but are now categorized elsewhere, include:

• Polystichum auriculatum (L.) C.Presl 1836 = Dryopteris auriculata (L.) Kuntze 1891^[32]
• Polystichum falcatum (L.f.) Diels 1899 = Cyrtomium falcatum (L.f.) C.Presl^[33] – Japanese Holly Fern
• Polystichum lepidocaulon (Hook.) J.Sm. 1866 = Cyrtomidictyum lepidocaulon (Hook.) Ching 1940^[34]

References

1. Synonyms Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 25 Jan 2012
2. Murphy, Rosaline J; Page, Christopher N, Parslow, Rosemary E and Bennallick, Ian J (2012). Ferns, Clubmosses, Quillworts and Horsetails of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Truro: ERCCIS. ISBN 978 1 902864 07 5. Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help)
3. P. andersonii, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Profile, 19 Jan 2012
4. P. bonseyi Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 19 Jan 2012
5. P. bonseyi, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Profile, 19 Jan 2012
6. P. brachypterum, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Profile, 19 Jan 2012
7. P. braunii, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Profile, 19 Jan 2012
8. P. brachypterum Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 19 Jan 2012
9. P. capillipes Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 20 Jan 2012
10. P. echinatum, Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden., 19 Jan 2012
11. P. kiusiuense Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 20 Jan 2012
12. P. haleakalense, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Profile, 19 Jan 2012
13. Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta, J. P. Roux, Nov. 2001. p. 129
14. P. mollissimum Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 20 Jan 2012
15. P. nakenense Chinese Plant Names www.eFloras.org 20 Dec 2012
16. P. neolobatum Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 19 Jan 2012
17. P. ordinatum Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 19 Jan 2012
18. P. erinaceum Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 19 Jan 2012
19. P. brunneum Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 19 Jan 2012
20. P. setigerum, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Profile, 20 Jan 2012
21. P. lichiangense Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 20 Jan 2012
22. P. sinense Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 19 Jan 2012
23. P. apicisterile Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 19 Jan 2012
24. P. integripinnulum Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 20 Jan 2012
25. P. conaense Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 19 Jan 2012
26. P. ilicifolium Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 20 Jan 2012
27. P. heteropaleaceum Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 20 Jan 2012
28. P. kodamae Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 20 Jan 2012
29. P. xiphophyllum Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 20 Jan 2012
30. P. gyirongense Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 19 Jan 2012
31. P. jizhushanense Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 20 Jan 2012
32. P. auriculatum Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 19 Jan 2012
33. P. falcatum Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 19 Jan 2012
34. P. lepidocaulon Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 20 Jan 2012

Gallery

Polystichum tsussimense

Polystichum lonchitis, Pancake Bay, Ontario

External links

• Jepson Manual Treatment
• the Polystichum homepage