shield fern

American

noun

any of numerous ferns of the genera Dryopteris and Polystichum, having shield-shaped indusia.

shield fern British

noun

any temperate woodland fern of the genus Polystichum having shield-shaped flaps covering the spore-producing bodies: family Aspleniaceae

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of shield fern

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The male fern resembles the marginal shield fern in outline, but the fronds are thinner, are not evergreen, and the sori are near the midvein.

From The Fern Lover's Companion A Guide for the Northeastern States and Canada by Tilton, George Henry

Under this designation Clute has grouped three of the shield ferns, which have a close family resemblance, and has thus distinguished them from the wood ferns, which also belong to the shield fern family.

From The Fern Lover's Companion A Guide for the Northeastern States and Canada by Tilton, George Henry

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023