Athyriales is one of the largest orders of fern, including not only tropical species but many of the temperate ones as well. The classification as shown here is strongly supported by genetic evidence. The Athyriaceae and the Blechnaceae are especially close, as are the Onocleaceae and Woodsiaceae.
This order includes some important ferns, including the Sensitive fern, Onoclea sensibilis, which grows as a virtual weed throughout much of its temperate North American range, and ferns of the genus Thelypteris, a genus that has shown remarkable speciation. It also includes one of the more common horticultural ferns, the Ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris.
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