Hard Shield Fern vs Madeira Sword-Fern

Polystichum aculeatum compared with Polystichum falcinellum

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Hard Shield Fern	Madeira Sword-Fern
Kingdom same	Plantae (พืช)	Plantae (พืช)
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 aculeatum	Polystichum falcinellum

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Hard Shield Fern

NT — Near Threatened

Madeira Sword-Fern

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Hard Shield Fern	Madeira Sword-Fern
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Hard Shield Fern

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and United States. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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.