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