holly fern vs Madeira Shield-Fern

Polystichum lonchitis compared with Polystichum drepanum

Key Differences

• holly fern is Least Concern while Madeira Shield-Fern is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	holly fern	Madeira Shield-Fern
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Tracheophyta	Tracheophyta
Class same	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)
Order same	Polypodiales (Polypodiales)	Polypodiales (Polypodiales)
Family same	Dryopteridaceae	Dryopteridaceae
Genus same	Polystichum	Polystichum
Species	Polystichum lonchitis	Polystichum drepanum

Evolutionary Relationship

holly fern and Madeira Shield-Fern share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Polystichum.

Conservation Status

holly fern

LC — Least Concern

Madeira Shield-Fern

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	holly fern	Madeira Shield-Fern
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

holly fern

Habitat

Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and North America (Canada).

Madeira Shield-Fern

Habitat

Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.

Range

Found in Portugal. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.