Family Pteridaceae is a group of ferns that are widely distributed across the world. The family includes over 1000 species and is characterized by their delicate, feathery fronds. There are several synonyms that are used to refer to the family Pteridaceae. One of the most commonly used alternative names is the bracken fern family, which refers to the large, well-known species of ferns in this family. Another synonym is the maidenhair fern family, which refers to the graceful, delicate appearance of many ferns in this group. Other synonyms include the adiantum fern family, the brake fern family, and the shield fern family, all of which refer to specific genera within the larger Pteridaceae family.