Phegopteris contains four species and is widely distributed throughout the N temperate zone, with one species in SE Asia. It is closely related to Thelypteris, from which it differs by adnate (vs. stalked to sessile) suprabasal pinnae and non-grooved rachises. Phegopteris connectilis is widespread in temperate regions of the N Hemisphere. It is similar to P. hexagonoptera, which differs in having the proximal pair of pinnae connected to those above by a wing along the rachis (vs. not connected in P. connectilis) and veins in segments of the middle pinnae always forked or pinnate (vs. mostly simple in P. connectilis).