| polystichum | (n) small to medium-sized terrestrial ferns especially holly ferns; in some classification systems placed in Polypodiaceae, Syn. genus Polystichum |
| braun's holly fern | (n) North American fern whose more or less evergreen leathery fronds are covered with pale brown chafflike scales, Syn. Polystichum braunii, prickly shield fern |
| christmas fern | (n) North American evergreen fern having pinnate leaves and dense clusters of lance-shaped fronds, Syn. canker brake, Polystichum acrostichoides, dagger fern, evergreen wood fern |
| holly fern | (n) tropical Old World fern having glossy fronds suggestive of holly; sometimes placed in genus Polystichum, Syn. Cyrtomium aculeatum, Polystichum aculeatum |
| leather fern | (n) widely distributed fern of tropical southern hemisphere having leathery pinnatifid fronds, Syn. ten-day fern, Rumohra adiantiformis, leatherleaf fern, Polystichum adiantiformis |
| northern holly fern | (n) evergreen European fern widely cultivated, Syn. Polystichum lonchitis |
| soft shield fern | (n) European shield fern cultivated in many varieties, Syn. Polystichum setiferum |
| western holly fern | (n) North American fern, Syn. Polystichum scopulinum |
| polystichum | (n) small to medium-sized terrestrial ferns especially holly ferns; in some classification systems placed in Polypodiaceae, Syn. genus Polystichum |
| braun's holly fern | (n) North American fern whose more or less evergreen leathery fronds are covered with pale brown chafflike scales, Syn. Polystichum braunii, prickly shield fern |
| christmas fern | (n) North American evergreen fern having pinnate leaves and dense clusters of lance-shaped fronds, Syn. canker brake, Polystichum acrostichoides, dagger fern, evergreen wood fern |
| holly fern | (n) tropical Old World fern having glossy fronds suggestive of holly; sometimes placed in genus Polystichum, Syn. Cyrtomium aculeatum, Polystichum aculeatum |
| leather fern | (n) widely distributed fern of tropical southern hemisphere having leathery pinnatifid fronds, Syn. ten-day fern, Rumohra adiantiformis, leatherleaf fern, Polystichum adiantiformis |
| northern holly fern | (n) evergreen European fern widely cultivated, Syn. Polystichum lonchitis |
| soft shield fern | (n) European shield fern cultivated in many varieties, Syn. Polystichum setiferum |
| western holly fern | (n) North American fern, Syn. Polystichum scopulinum |