Osmundaceous ferns

Family: Osmundaceae

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

filmy ferns

Family: Hymenophyllaceae

Five genera and 11 species indigenous to southern Africa.

gleichenoid ferns

Family: Gleicheniaceae

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

Core leptosporangiates

schizaeoid ferns

Family: Anemiaceae

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

heterosporous ferns

Family: Azollaceae

Aquatic ferns with one genus (Azolla) and two species indigenous 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 indigenous 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 indigenous to southern Africa.

polypod ferns

Family: Aspleniaceae

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

Family: Dennstaedtiaceae

Five genera and seven species indigenous to southern Africa.

Family: Dryopteridaceae

Seven genera and 20 species indigenous to southern Africa

Family: Grammitidaceae

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

Family: Lindsaeaceae

One species, Lindsaea ensifolia, indigenous to southern Africa.

Family: Lomariopsidaceae

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

Family: Polypodiaceae

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

Family: Pteridaceae

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

Family: Tectariaceae

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

Family: Thelypteridaceae

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

Family: Vittariaceae

One species, Vittaria isoetifolia, indigenous 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.