Like Section Hirtipedes except the pinna lobes cut nearly to the costa, leaving them connected by a narrow wing of tissue, fronds more or less linear-lanceolate, the pinnae segments or lobes are quite regular, rectangular, their sides parallel and untoothed, their apices truncate or rounded-truncate and bearing short teeth.

1.  Blade ovate to lanceolate or oblanceolate, or elliptic, the basal pinnae shorter than those above

2. Veins of segments simple except for the basiscopic segments next to the rachis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. D. polylepis

2. Veins of segments forked

3. Black blotch or spot present at base of pinna midrib on abaxial side.

4. Basal basiscopic pinnule next to the rachis with sides entire to subentire (rarely elongate and to shallowly pinnatifid in subsp. borreri); the black blotch at base of pinna midrib on the abaxial side not fading in dried fronds; scales on abaxial side of pinna midrib mostly tan (concolorous), commonly cultivated species with many cultivars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5. D. affinis

4. Basal basiscopic pinnule next to the rachis slightly enlongate, lobed to shallowly pinnatifid in mature plants, black blotch at base of pinna midrib on abaxial side fading away on dried fronds, scales on the abaxial side of  the pinna midrib mostly dark brown to black with pale margins, infrequently cultivated species . . 9. D. pseudo-filix-mas

3. Black blotch or spot absent from base of abaxial side of pinnae costa

5. Blade lustrous, firm; the segment apex typically truncate with larger teeth at the distal corner, the veins on the abaxial surface of segments conspicuous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10. D. wallichiana

5. Blade not lustrous, firm-herbaceous, the segment apex typically rounded with the teeth on both sides similar, the veins on the abaxial surface not particularly conspicuous.

6. Sori on upper pinnae of frond; basal basiscopic pinnule (segment) next to rachis adnate; lateral margins of segment weakly crenate, abaxial side of pinna midrib with many long tapered triangular scales and hair-like scales, scales shaggy, pale tan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6. D. crassirhizoma

6. Sori extending to middle of frond or lower; basal basiscopic pinnule next to rachis sessile; lateral margins of segment notched-serrate, abaxial side of pinna midrib with mostly deltoid to triangular scales, many with an abruptly acuminate apex, scales dark brown to black often with pale margin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17. D. filix-mas (see section Dryopteris)