| Noun | 1. | genus Dryopteris - large widespread genus of medium-sized terrestrial ferns; in some classification systems placed in Polypodiaceaefern genus - genera of ferns and fern allies Athyriaceae, Dryopteridaceae, family Athyriaceae, family Dryopteridaceae - alternative names for one of a number of families into which the family Polypodiaceae has been subdivided in some classification systems broad buckler-fern, Dryopteris dilatata - European shield fern |