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Ferns offer fine textures, and two tough evergreen species that are stellar in containers are Dryopteris erythrosora, autumn fern, and Polystichum setiferum ‘Divisilobum’, the divided soft shield fern.

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.

Although the genus Polýstichum represents the true shield ferns, the wood ferns are also thus designated, as their indusia have nearly the shape of small, roundish shields.

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.