Tags: Fern.
Polystichum is a genus of about 260 species of ferns with a cosmopolitan distribution. The highest diversity is in eastern Asia with about 120 species in China alone; the region from Mexico to Brazil has nearly 100 additional species; Africa (17 species) North America (15 species) and Europe (5 species) have much lower diversity. Polystichum species are terrestrial or rock-dwelling ferns of warm-temperate and montane-tropical regions (a few species grow in alpine regions).
