Abstract: The spores of 26 species of Scet. Metapolystichum(Polystichum) in China have been studied under LM and SEM. The results show that the spores are monolate, elliptic in polar view, reniform in equatorial view, all with perines, (24.3-45.6) x (28.2-61.4) x (24.3-57.1)/xm in size. The perine sculptures of 26 species almost are different from one another and can be divided into 6 types: scabrate, wing-like, cristate, verrucate, foveolate and reticulate.

Key words: Spore morphology