Hypolepis  

Hypolepis, is a pan-tropical genus containing approximately 45 species worldwide, 7 native and one adventure species in Australia (Chinnick, 1987).

It is part of the Dennstaedtiaceae family, which contains the worlds’ most abundant species of fern Pteridium aquilunum.(dennstaedtiaceae) Members of the order are typically of a weed like nature, they usually exhibit large, highly divided leaves. (P.J. Brownsey, 1998). The size of the species within the Hypolepis genus range from medium to large terrestrial plants, of about 0.5m to 3m (TAXONOMY, 2006)