Shield fern Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any of various ferns of the genera Dryopteris or Polystichum or Lastreopsis having somewhat shield-shaped coverings on the sori
    buckler fern.

WordNet

Definitions
  1. (Bot.), any fern of the genus Aspidium, in which the fructifications are covered with shield-shaped indusia; called also wood fern. See Illust. of Indusium.

Webster 1913