Polystichum luctuosum: mourning shield fern (Eng.); treur skildvaring (Afr.)
The species has a wide distribution in the Old World, extending as far as Japan. It is also widely distributed in South Africa, occurring from the Eastern Cape through KwaZulu-Natal to the north-eastern parts of the Free State, Mpumalanga and the Northern Province. It grows at elevations ranging between 760 and 1 740 m. The species is confined to evergreen forests where it grows on the forest floor or on rocks. P. luctuosum is often sold as P. tsus-simense and is a predominantly single-stemmed species resulting in a tussock-like growth. It can reach a height of up to 0.4 m. This smaller species has a very neat appearance, and is characterised by the almost black scales and dark veins, which contrast with the olive-green leaves. It is best cultivated in shade and needs to be kept moist, but not wet, at all times. It is a slow grower. Propagate by spores.

Polystichum monticola: mountain shieldfern (Eng.); berg skildvaring (Afr.)
Polystichum monticola is confined to South Africa, extending from the Kamiesberg in the Northern Cape, through the Western and Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State, to Lesotho, occurring from 600 to 2 740 m. The habitat includes seasonally moist, evergreen forests, rock crevices, cliff bases, stream banks, and forest margins, often growing in exposed, seasonally xeric conditions. The rhizome is decumbent and closely branched, resulting in plants forming a shrubby growth form. This variable and predominantly high altitude species is ideally suited for garden cultivation. The arching leaves are mid-green in colour and up to 0.8 m long. Although the species will tolerate some sun once well established, it is best cultivated in moist conditions in light shade. The species is slow-growing, and propagation is best done by rhizome division.

Polystichum transvaalense: stemmed shieldfern (Eng.); enkelstam skildvaring (Afr.)
Polystichum transvaalense is widely distributed in temperate and tropical Africa. In South Africa it occurs from the Drakensberg foothills in the Eastern Cape along the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg escarpment, the Eastern Cape and southern KwaZulu-Natal midlands, the Free State/KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga/Limpopo Province escarpment to the Soutpansberg, with outlying populations in the southern Cape mountains. It occurs at altitudes ranging from 365 to 1 840 m and is confined to forests. It has a short, erect, usually unbranched rhizome and a tussock-like growth form. In suitable conditions the suberect to arching pale- to mid-green leaves may be up to 1 m long. The species is suited to be used as a focal point in smaller gardens and should best be cultivated in light shade, preferring moist conditions. The species is worthy of cultivation because of its neat appearance. Propagate from spores.