Plants terrestrial. Stems creeping; tips often somewhat erect. Leaves dimorphic; fertile leaves erect, often notably smaller than sterile leaves in length and width. Blades 1–2-pinnate; pinnae monomorphic to dimorphic, pinnatifid or pinnate.

Distribution

Nearly worldwide, tropical and temperate regions.

Discussion

Species 10 (3 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Osmunda cinnamomea, Osmunda claytoniana, Osmunda regalis, Osmunda ruggii

Key

1	Fertile leaves with pinnae monomorphic, all spore-bearing; tuft of hairs persistent on abaxial surface of pinnae near base.	Osmunda cinnamomea
1	Fertile leaves with pinnae dimorphic, some spore-bearing, some not; tuft of hairs absent on abaxial surface of pinnae near base.	> 2
2	Sterile leaves 2-pinnate with pinnules sessile.	Osmunda ruggii
2	Sterile leaves pinnate-pinnatifid or 2-pinnate with pinnules stalked.	> 3
3	Fertile pinnae apical, sterile leaves 2-pinnate.	Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis
3	Fertile pinnae medial, sterile leaves pinnate-pinnatifid.	Osmunda claytoniana