The prothallial development of gametophytes of Olfersia alata and Olfersia cervina s (Dryopteridaceae) is described and compared. Spores are monolete, ellipsoid, and with broadly winged perispore. Germination is Vittaria-type and the prothallial development is Aspidiumtype. Adult gametophytes are cordiform-spatulate to cordiform-reniform, with marginal and These two species share some features with some species of Arachniodes, Cyrtomium, Dryo ris, Phanerophlebia, and Polystichum, such as type of germination and prothallial development and trichomes. They differ from Didymochlaena truncatula, which has prothallial development of the Adiantum-type and lacks trichomes on the sexual phase.