holly fern vs Madeira Sword-Fern

Polystichum lonchitis compared with Polystichum falcinellum

Key Differences

• holly fern is Least Concern while Madeira Sword-Fern is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	holly fern	Madeira Sword-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 falcinellum

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

holly fern

LC — Least Concern

Madeira Sword-Fern

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	holly fern	Madeira Sword-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 Sword-Fern

Habitat

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

Range

Found in Portugal. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.