Abstract: The paper deals with the taxonomic problem of the fern section, Polystichum Roth Sect. Metapolystichum Tagawa. The concept of Sect. Metapolystichum employed here roughly follows that of Daigobo (1972) with some modifications, i. e. "leaves bipinnate, herbaceous; pinnules more or less petioled, with narrow-type microscales; raches without gemmae". A new system of the section comprising 5 series is proposed, a key to the series is as follows: 1. Pinnules without hydathodes. 2. Stipes with ovate, ovato-lanceolate or broadly lanceolate scales. 3. Pinnules with auricles. 4. Microseales longer than 1.5 mm, dense; scales of stipes bicolorous or concolorous ............................................................ Set. 4. Brauniana 4. Microscales usually shorter than 1.0 mm, sparse; scales of stipes bicolorous .............................................................. Ser. 5. Makinoiana 3. Pinnules without auricles ..................................... Set. 3. Exauricula 2. Stipes only with linear or lanceolato-linear scales .............. Set. 2. Linearia 1. Pinnules with hydathodes ............................................ Ser. 1. Punctifera In this paper, microscales of Polystichum are considered of significance in taxonomy of this genus and can be divided into two types: the Long-type (longer than 1.5 mm) and the Short-type (shorter than 1.0 mm). The paper recognizes 22 species of Sect. Metapolystichum in China, of which one species, P. longipinnulum Naif is new to China, P. glingense Ching et Y. X. Ling and P. shennongense Ching, Boofford et Shing are treated as synonyms of P. punctiferum C. Chr. and P. braunii (Spenn.) Fee respectively. P. mucronifolium (BI.) Presl and P. setiferum (Forsk.) Moore ex Woynar are considered not distributed in China (even in the Himalayas). As to the lectotype of P. yunnanense Christ, Henry 9101 (Yunnan: Mengzi, alt. 1500～2100 m, Henry 9101, PE!) is chosen by the authors, while, Ducloux 102 sellected by C. R. Fraser-Jenkins & S. P. Khullar (1985) can not be taken as the lectotype. P. nudisorum Ching, ignored by many botanist, is different from P. longipaleatum Christ by its darkly brown stipe scales and a smaller distribution area at higher altitudes. The paperalso describes the geographical distribution of this section.

Key words: Sect. Metapolystichum, revision, taxonomy, China