蚌壳蕨科是真蕨纲桫椤目的一科，现存四属四十种 。

蚌壳蕨科的蕨类植物通常被视为比桫椤科植物更原始，发源于侏罗纪早期。

The Dicksoniaceae is a family of tropical, subtropical and warm temperate ferns. Most of the 5-6 genera in the family are terrestrial ferns or have very short trunks compared to tree ferns of the family Cyatheaceae. However, some of the larger species can reach several metres in height. A number of others are epiphytes. They are found mostly in tropical regions in the Southern Hemisphere, as far south as southern New Zealand.