Plant phylogeny has changed a lot since the advent of molecular systematics and in an effort to standardise the classification of ferns and their allies, the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group (PPG) published their first phylogeny of the group in 2016. In this classification the class Polypodiopsida encompasses four subclasses: Equisetidae (Horsetails; approx. 20 species); Ophioglossidae (Whisk Ferns; 92 species); Marattiidae (approx. 130 species) and the Polypodiidae (ferns; approx. 10,000 species).

Equisetidae (Horsetails)

Shady Horsetail Equisetum pratense Marsh Horsetail Equisetum palustre Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense Water Horsetail Equisetum fluviatile

Polypodiidae (Ferns)

Tunbridge Filmy-fern Hymenophyllum tunbridgense Killarney Fern Trichomanes speciosum Tasmanian Tree Fern Dicksonia antarctica BlackTree Fern Cyathea medullaris Hart's-tongue Phyllitis scolopendrium Hard-fern Blechnum spicant Maidenhair Spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes Sea Spleenwort Asplenium marinum Common Polypody Polypodium vulgare Parsley Fern Cryptogramma crispa Brittle Bladder-fern Cystopteris fragilis Scaly Male-fern Dryopteris affinis

Broad Buckler-fern Dryopteris dilatata Common Male-fern Dryopteris filix-mas Hard Shield-fern Polystichum aculeatum

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