Noun | 1. | ![]() fern 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 canker brake, Christmas fern, dagger fern, evergreen wood fern, Polystichum acrostichoides - North American evergreen fern having pinnate leaves and dense clusters of lance-shaped fronds holly fern - any of various ferns of the genus Polystichum having fronds with texture and gloss like holly Polystichum setiferum, soft shield fern - European shield fern cultivated in many varieties |