Matoniaceae is one of the three families of ferns in the Gleicheniales order of the Polypodiopsida class.

[1][2] Fossil records reveal that Matoniaceae ferns were abundant during the Mesozoic era (about 250-million to 66-million years ago), during which they lived on every continent, including Antarctica, with eight genera and 26 species, with the oldest known specimens being from the Middle Triassic of Antarctica.

[3] Today the family is much less abundant, and also less diverse, with only two extant genera and four species,[4] which are limited to portions of southeastern Asia.

[5] The following diagram shows a likely phylogenic relationship with the other two families of the Gleicheniales.

[6] 6 extant genera 2 extant genera Matonia Phanerosorus Some common Mesozoic Matoniaceae genera and a sampling of their species include: