Olfersia is a genus of ferns in the family Dryopteridaceae, subfamily Polybotryoideae, in the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group classification of 2016 (PPG I). They are found in Mexico and parts of South America.
The genus name of Olfersia is in honour of Ignaz Franz Werner Maria von Olfers (1793–1871), who was a German naturalist, historian and diplomat.
The genus was circumscribed by Giuseppe Raddi in Opusc. Sci. vol.3 on page 283 in 1819.
Species
, the Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World accepted the following species: Olfersia alata C.Sánchez & Caluff Olfersia cervina (L.) Kunze Olfersia macrostegia (Hook.) comb. ined. Olfersia ochropteroides (Baker) comb. ined.
, Plants of the World Online only accepts Olfersia alata and Olfersia cervina
Native
They are found in Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Venezuela, Venezuelan Antilles and the Windward Islands.