Morphology and anatomy of the rhizome and frond in the African species of Polystichum (Pteropsida : Dryopteridaceae)

The generic circumscription of the polystichoid ferns within the Dryopterid aceae and their relationships has been and still is much debated. Although floristic accounts for Polystichum are available for many parts of the worl d, its morphology and evolutionary trends within the genus are still poorly understood. In this study, primarily based on the Polystichum species from Africa and neighbouring islands, the morphology and anatomy of the rhizome and frond are addressed. Several species from other genera within the Dryo pteridaceae are used for comparison, to gain a better understanding of gene ric affinities and evolution in this family.