Table of contents : Cover Title Page Copyright Page Contents Introduction What is a pteridophyte How to use this book Glossary Pteridophyte identification Introduction Look-alikes The four groups Atypical ferns IDENTIFICATION KEYS Clubmosses Horsetails Quillworts Ferns GUIDE TO FAMILIES Lycopodiaceae | Clubmosses; Selaginellaceae | Spikemosses Isoëtaceae | Quillworts Equisetaceae | Horsetails Ophioglossaceae | Adder’s-tongues & Moonworts Osmundaceae | Royal Fern Marsileaceae | Pillwort Hymenophyllaceae | Filmy-ferns Polypodiaceae | Polypodies Pteridaceae | Maidenhair, Jersey & Parsley Ferns Dennstaedtiaceae | Bracken Cystopteridaceae | Oak & Bladder-ferns Aspleniaceae | Spleenworts Woodsiaceae | Woodsias Athyriaceae | Lady-ferns Thelypteridaceae | Marsh & Beech Ferns Blechnaceae | Hard-fern Dryopteridaceae | Shield-, Male- & Buckler-ferns THE SPECIES ACCOUNTS Clubmosses Quillworts Horsetails Ferns All-year-round pteridology Juvenile ferns Urban ferns Variation in pteridophytes Non-native and nuisance pteridophytes Further reading and references Resources and submitting records Acknowledgements and photographic credits Index of English and scientific names