A taxonomic revision of Ctenitis (C. Chr.) C. Chr. (Dryopteridaceae) from Africa and the Western Indian Ocean was carried out. Forty species are recognized, of which 12 are described as new, eight are transferred to Ctenitis from other genera, and one is elevated from variety to species and transferred from Aspidium Sw. to Ctenitis. These 21 nomenclatural novelties include C. analamazaotrensis (Rakotondr.) Hennequin & Rouhan (comb. nov.), C. brevipetiolulata Li Bing Zhang & Yi F. Duan (sp. nov.), C. bullescens Rouhan, Li Bing Zhang & Yi F. Duan (sp. nov.), C. cerea Li Bing Zhang & Yi F. Duan (sp. nov.), C. comorensis Li Bing Zhang & Yi F. Duan (sp. nov.), C. crinigera (C. Chr.) Hennequin & Rouhan (comb. nov.), C. decaryana (C. Chr.) Hennequin & Rouhan (comb. nov.), C. dentata Li Bing Zhang & Yi F. Duan (sp. nov.), C. fibrillosa (Baker) Li Bing Zhang & Yi F. Duan (comb. nov.), C. hispida (Kuhn) Li Bing Zhang & Yi F. Duan (comb. & stat. nov.), C. jouyana (Rakotondr.) Hennequin & Rouhan (comb. nov.), C. longivillosa Li Bing Zhang & Yi F. Duan (sp. nov.), C. marginalisora Li Bing Zhang & Yi F. Duan (sp. nov.), C. mayottensis Li Bing Zhang & Yi F. Duan (sp. nov.), C. multilobata Li Bing Zhang, Yi F. Duan & Rouhan (sp. nov.), C. reunionensis Hennequin, Li Bing Zhang & Yi F. Duan (sp. nov.), C. sieberiana (Kaulf.) Hennequin & Rouhan (comb. nov.), C. sparsa Li Bing Zhang & Yi F. Duan (sp. nov.), C. spekei (Baker) Li Bing Zhang & Yi F. Duan (comb. nov.), C. subcrenulata (Baker) Li Bing Zhang, Rouhan & Yi F. Duan (comb. nov.), and C. tardieu-blotiae Li Bing Zhang & Yi F. Duan (sp. nov.). A key to these species is provided; all species are described and illustrated; and information on their distribution and habitats is given. Twenty-three relevant species reported in the literature are excluded from the flora, and their taxonomy, distribution, and nomenclature are discussed. Seventeen related names are lectotypified or neotypified including Aspidium cirrhosum Schumach., A. crinitum (Poir.) Wall. var. hispida Kuhn, A. cyclochlamys Fée, A. nitidum Bory ex Willd., A. pauciflorum Kaulf., A. sulcatum Kaulf. ex Bory, C. anjenabensis Tardieu, Dryopteris blepharochlamys C. Chr., Gymnogramma subsimilis Hook., Nephrodium crinitum (Poir.) Desv. var. maritimum Cordem., N. magnum Baker, N. spekei Baker, N. welwitschii Baker, Phegopteris biformis Mett. ex Kuhn, P. bivestita Mett., Polypodium baronii Baker, and P. efulense Baker; type information of related 262 names is also given.