Plants terrestrial, often forming colonies. Stems subterranean, long- to short-creeping; hairs dark reddish brown, jointed. Leaves clustered or scattered, erect to arching, ovate to lanceolate to deltate, 0.4–3 m. Petiole glabrous to pubescent, usually without prickles, often with stem buds near base; vascular bundles 1–2, arranged in U- or O-shape in cross section. Blade 2–4-pinnate; rachis without prickles; nectaries absent. Segments pinnately divided, ultimate segments ovate to lanceolate, margins dentate or lobed. Veins free, pinnately branched. Sori marginal at vein tips, distinct, round or cylindric; indusia formed by fusion of true indusium and minute blade tooth to form circular or slightly 2-valvate cup. Spores tetrahedral-globose, trilete (rarely monolete), tuberculate or ridged. x = 34, 46, 47.

Distribution

Worldwide, mostly tropical.

Discussion

Species ca. 70 (3 in the flora).

Selected References

Tryon, R. M. 1960. A review of the genus Dennstaedtia in America. Contr. Gray Herb. 187: 23--52.

Lower Taxa

Dennstaedtia bipinnata, Dennstaedtia globulifera, Dennstaedtia punctilobula

Key

1	Blades yellow-green or pale green, mostly 2-pinnate-pinnatifid, leaves usually less than 1 m.	Dennstaedtia punctilobula
1	Blades dark green, 3-pinnate, leaves 1–2(–3) m.	> 2
2	Basal segments of pinnules alternate; blades dull; indusia globose; Texas.	Dennstaedtia globulifera
2	Basal segments of pinnules opposite; blades lustrous; indusia tubular or cylindric; Florida.	Dennstaedtia bipinnata