List of pteridophytes of South Africa

This listing contains taxa of plants in the division Pteridophyta, recorded from South Africa. A pteridophyte is a vascular plant (with xylem and phloem) that disperses spores. Because pteridophytes produce neither flowers nor seeds, they are sometimes referred to as "cryptogams", meaning that their means of reproduction is hidden. Ferns, horsetails (often treated as ferns), and lycophytes (clubmosses, spikemosses, and quillworts) are all pteridophytes. However, they do not form a monophyletic group because ferns (and horsetails) are more closely related to seed plants than to lycophytes. "Pteridophyta" is thus no longer a widely accepted taxon, but the term pteridophyte remains in common parlance, as do pteridology and pteridologist as a science and its practitioner, respectively. Ferns and lycophytes share a life cycle and are often collectively treated or studied, for example by the International Association of Pteridologists and the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group.

23,420 species of vascular plant have been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened. Nine biomes have been described in South Africa: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, desert, Nama Karoo, grassland, savanna, Albany thickets, the Indian Ocean coastal belt, and forests.

The 2018 National Biodiversity Assessment plant checklist lists 35,130 taxa in the phyla Anthocerotophyta (hornworts (6)), Anthophyta (flowering plants(33534)), Bryophyta (mosses (685)), Cycadophyta (cycads (42)), Lycopodiophyta (Lycophytes(45)), Marchantiophyta (liverworts (376)), Pinophyta (conifers (33)), and Pteridophyta {cryptograms(408)).

Listing Abrodictyum pseudorigidum Bauret & Dubuisson, indigenous Acrostichum aureum L. indigenous Actiniopteris dimorpha Pic.Serm. indigenous Actiniopteris dimorpha Pic.Serm. subsp. dimorpha indigenous Actiniopteris radiata (J.Konig ex Sw.) Link, indigenous Adiantum aethiopicum L. indigenous Adiantum capillus-veneris L. indigenous Adiantum hispidulum Sw. indigenous Adiantum hispidulum Sw. var. hispidulum indigenous Adiantum incisum Forssk. indigenous Adiantum lunulatum Burm.f. indigenous Adiantum poiretii Wikstr. indigenous Adiantum raddianum C.Presl Alsophila capensis (L.f.) J.Sm. indigenous Alsophila dregei (Kunze) R.M.Tryon, indigenous Amauropelta bergiana (Schltdl.) Holttum, indigenous Amauropelta bergiana (Schltdl.) Holttum var. bergiana, indigenous Amauropelta knysnaensis (N.C.Anthony & Schelpe) Parris, endemic Amauropelta oppositiformis (C.Chr.) Holttum, indigenous Ampelopteris prolifera (Retz.) Copel. indigenous Anemia dregeana Kunze, indigenous Anemia simii Tardieu, indigenous Anogramma leptophylla (L.) Link, indigenous Arachniodes foliosa (C.Chr.) Schelpe Arachniodes webbiana (A.Braun) Schelpe, indigenous Arachniodes webbiana (A.Braun) Schelpe subsp. foliosa (C.Chr.) Gibby, Rasbach, Reichst., Widen & Via, indigenous Arthropteris monocarpa (Cordem.) C.Chr. indigenous Aspidium athamanticum Kunze, indigenous Aspidium falcatum (L.f.) Sw. Aspidium inaequale Schltdl. indigenous Aspidium inaequale Schltdl. var. montanum Kunze, indigenous Aspidium pentagonum (T.Moore) Kuhn, indigenous Aspidium squamisetum (Hook.) Kuhn, indigenous Asplenium adiantum-nigrum L. indigenous Asplenium adiantum-nigrum L. var. adiantum-nigrum indigenous Asplenium adiantum-nigrum L. var. solidum (Kunze) J.P.Roux, endemic Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm.f.) Bech. indigenous Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm.f.) Bech. subsp. dodecaploideum A.F.Braithw. indigenous Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm.f.) Bech. subsp. filare (Forssk.) A.F.Braithw. indigenous Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm.f.) Bech. subsp. tripinnatum (Baker) A.F.Braithw. indigenous Asplenium anisophyllum Kunze, indigenous Asplenium blastophorum Hieron. indigenous Asplenium boltonii Hook. ex Brause & Hieron. indigenous Asplenium capense (Kunze) Bir, Fraser-Jenk. & Lovis, indigenous Asplenium christii Hieron. indigenous Asplenium cordatum (Thunb.) Sw. indigenous Asplenium dregeanum Kunze indigenous Asplenium erectum Bory ex Willd. indigenous Asplenium erectum Bory ex Willd. var. erectum, indigenous Asplenium erectum Bory ex Willd. var. usambarense (Hieron.) Schelpe, indigenous Asplenium friesiorum C.Chr. indigenous Asplenium gemmiferum Schrad. indigenous Asplenium hypomelas Kuhn, indigenous Asplenium inaequilaterale Bory ex Willd. indigenous Asplenium lividum Mett. ex Kuhn, indigenous Asplenium lobatum Pappe & Rawson, indigenous Asplenium lobatum Pappe & Rawson var. lobatum, indigenous Asplenium lobatum Pappe & Rawson var. pseudo-abyssinicum N.C.Anthony & Schelpe, indigenous Asplenium lunulatum Sw. indigenous Asplenium monanthes L. indigenous Asplenium multiforme Krasser, indigenous Asplenium obscurum Blume, indigenous Asplenium phillipsianum (Kummerle) Bir, Fraser-Jenk. & Lovis, indigenous Asplenium platyneuron (L.) Britten, Sterns & Poggenb. indigenous Asplenium preussii Hieron. ex Brause, indigenous Asplenium prionitis Kunze, indigenous Asplenium protensum Schrad. indigenous Asplenium rutifolium (P.J.Bergius) Kunze, indigenous Asplenium sandersonii Hook. indigenous Asplenium schelpei A.F.Braithw. indigenous Asplenium simii A.F.Braithw. & Schelpe, indigenous Asplenium splendens Kunze, indigenous Asplenium splendens Kunze subsp. drakensbergense A.F.Braithw. near endemic Asplenium splendens Kunze subsp. splendens, indigenous Asplenium stoloniferum Bory, indigenous Asplenium theciferum (Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth) Mett. indigenous Asplenium theciferum (Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth) Mett. var. concinnum (Schrad.) Schelpe, indigenous Asplenium trichomanes L. indigenous Asplenium trichomanes L. subsp. quadrivalens D.E.Mey. indigenous Asplenium varians Wall. ex Hook. & Grev. indigenous Asplenium varians Wall. ex Hook. & Grev. subsp. fimbriatum (Kunze) Schelpe, indigenous Asplenium x flexuosum Schrad. indigenous Athyrium crassicaule J.P.Roux, near endemic Athyrium newtonii Baker, indigenous Athyrium schimperi Moug. ex Fee, indigenous Azolla cristata Kaulf. invasive Azolla filiculoides Lam. invasive Azolla microphylla Kaulf. Azolla pinnata R.Br. indigenous Azolla pinnata R.Br. subsp. africana (Desv.) R.M.K.Saunders & K.Fowler, indigenous Azolla pinnata R.Br. subsp. asiatica R.M.K.Saunders & K.Fowler, invasive Blechnum attenuatum (Sw.) Mett. indigenous Blechnum attenuatum (Sw.) Mett. var. giganteum (Kaulf.) Bonap. Blechnum australe L. indigenous Blechnum australe L. subsp. australe, indigenous Blechnum capense Burm.f. indigenous Blechnum inflexum (Kunze) Kuhn, indigenous Blechnum punctulatum Sw. indigenous Blechnum punctulatum Sw. var. atherstonei (Pappe & Rawson) Sim, indigenous Blechnum punctulatum Sw. var. intermedium (Sim) Sim, endemic Blechnum punctulatum Sw. var. krebsii (Kunze) Sim, endemic Blechnum punctulatum Sw. var. punctulatum, indigenous Blechnum tabulare (Thunb.) Kuhn, indigenous Blotiella glabra (Bory) R.M.Tryon, indigenous Blotiella natalensis (Hook.) R.M.Tryon, indigenous Bolbitis heudelotii (Bory ex Fee) Alston, indigenous Cephalomanes rigidum (Sw.) K.Iwats. indigenous Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn. indigenous Ceterach cordatum (Thunb.) Desv. indigenous Cheilanthes bergiana Schltdl. indigenous Cheilanthes botswanae Schelpe & N.C.Anthony, indigenous Cheilanthes buchananii (Baker) Domin, indigenous Cheilanthes capensis (Thunb.) Sw. indigenous Cheilanthes ceterachoides A.W.Klopper & Klopper, endemic Cheilanthes contracta (Kunze) Mett. ex Kuhn, endemic Cheilanthes deltoidea Kunze, indigenous Cheilanthes deltoidea Kunze subsp. deltoidea, indigenous Cheilanthes deltoidea Kunze subsp. silicicola Klopper & A.E.van Wyk, endemic Cheilanthes depauperata Baker, endemic Cheilanthes dolomiticola (Schelpe) Schelpe & N.C.Anthony, indigenous Cheilanthes eckloniana (Kunze) Mett. indigenous Cheilanthes hastata (L.f.) Kunze, indigenous Cheilanthes hirta Sw. indigenous Cheilanthes hirta Sw. var. brevipilosa W.Jacobsen & N.Jacobsen forma brevipilosa, indigenous Cheilanthes hirta Sw. var. brevipilosa W.Jacobsen & N.Jacobsen forma laxa, indigenous Cheilanthes hirta Sw. var. brevipilosa W.Jacobsen & N.Jacobsen forma waterbergensis, endemic Cheilanthes hirta Sw. var. hirta, indigenous Cheilanthes hirta Sw. var. hyaloglandulosa (W.Jacobsen & N.Jacobsen) J.E.Burrows, indigenous Cheilanthes hirta Sw. var. inferacampestris W.Jacobsen & N.Jacobsen, indigenous Cheilanthes hirta Sw. var. nemorosa W.Jacobsen & N.Jacobsen, indigenous Cheilanthes hyaloglandulosa W.Jacobsen & N.Jacobsen, indigenous Cheilanthes inaequalis (Kunze) Mett. indigenous Cheilanthes inaequalis (Kunze) Mett. var. buchananii (Baker) Schelpe, indigenous Cheilanthes induta Kunze, endemic Cheilanthes involuta (Sw.) Schelpe & N.C.Anthony, indigenous Cheilanthes involuta (Sw.) Schelpe & N.C.Anthony var. involuta, indigenous Cheilanthes involuta (Sw.) Schelpe & N.C.Anthony var. obscura (N.C.Anthony) N.C.Anthony, indigenous Cheilanthes kunzei Mett. indigenous Cheilanthes marlothii (Hieron.) Domin, indigenous Cheilanthes multifida (Sw.) Sw. indigenous Cheilanthes multifida (Sw.) Sw. subsp. lacerata N.C.Anthony & Schelpe, indigenous Cheilanthes multifida (Sw.) Sw. var. multifida, indigenous Cheilanthes namaquensis (Baker) Schelpe & N.C.Anthony, indigenous Cheilanthes nielsii W.Jacobsen, indigenous Cheilanthes parviloba (Sw.) Sw. indigenous Cheilanthes pentagona Schelpe & N.C.Anthony, indigenous Cheilanthes quadripinnata (Forssk.) Kuhn, indigenous Cheilanthes rawsonii (Pappe) Mett. ex Kuhn, indigenous Cheilanthes robusta (Kunze) R.M.Tryon, indigenous Cheilanthes viridis (Forssk.) Sw. indigenous Cheilanthes viridis (Forssk.) Sw. var. glauca (Sim) Schelpe & N.C.Anthony, indigenous Cheilanthes viridis (Forssk.) Sw. var. macrophylla (Kunze) Schelpe & N.C.Anthony, indigenous Cheilanthes viridis (Forssk.) Sw. var. viridis, indigenous Christella altissima Holttum, endemic Christella buchananii (Schelpe) J.P.Roux, indigenous Christella chaseana (Schelpe) Holttum, indigenous Christella dentata (Forssk.) Brownsey & Jermy, indigenous Christella gueinziana (Mett.) Holttum, indigenous Christella hispidula (Decne.) Holttum, indigenous Crepidomanes borbonicum (Bosch) J.P.Roux, indigenous Crepidomanes inopinatum (Pic.Serm.) J.P.Roux, indigenous Crepidomanes melanotrichum (Schltdl.) J.P.Roux, indigenous Ctenitis lanuginosa (Willd. ex Kaulf.) Copel. indigenous Cyathea capensis (L.f.) Sm. indigenous Cyathea cooperi (Hook. ex F.Muell.) Domin. Cyathea dregei Kunze, indigenous Cyclosorus guenzianus (Mett.) J.P.Roux, indigenous Cyclosorus interruptus (Willd.) H.Ito, indigenous Cyrtomium falcatum (L.f.) C.Presl Cyrtomium luctuosum J.P.Roux, indigenous Cyrtomium pseudocaryotideum J.P.Roux, endemic Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh. indigenous Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh. subsp. fragilis, indigenous Davallia chaerophylloides (Poir.) Steud. indigenous Davallia denticulata (Burm.f.) Mett. ex Kuhn, indigenous Davallia denticulata (Burm.f.) Mett. ex Kuhn var. denticulata, indigenous Deparia japonica (Thunb.) M.Kato, invasive Dicksonia antarctica Labill. cultivated Dicranopteris linearis (Burm.f.) Underw. indigenous Dicranopteris linearis (Burm.f.) Underw. var. linearis, indigenous Didymochlaena truncatula (Sw.) J.Sm. indigenous Didymoglossum erosum (Willd.) Beentje, indigenous Didymoglossum reptans (Sw.) C.Presl, indigenous Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw. invasive Diplazium zanzibaricum (Baker) C.Chr. indigenous Doodia caudata (Cav.) R.Br. Doryopteris concolor (Langsd. & Fisch.) Kuhn, indigenous Doryopteris pilosa (Poir.) Kuhn, indigenous Doryopteris pilosa (Poir.) Kuhn var. gemmifera J.E.Burrows & S.E.Strauss, indigenous Dryopteris antarctica (Baker) C.Chr. indigenous Dryopteris athamantica (Kunze) Kuntze, indigenous Dryopteris buchananii (Baker) Kuntze, indigenous Dryopteris callolepis C.Chr. indigenous Dryopteris dracomontana Schelpe & N.C.Anthony, indigenous Dryopteris esterhuyseniae Schelpe & N.C.Anthony, endemic