The authors report the somatic chromosome number of 9 species of ferns coming from various localities in Sicily. Six species are diploid (Athyrium filix-femina, Asplenium onopteris, Asplenium obovatum, Dryopteris pallida, Polystichum setiferum, Woodwardia radicans), two tetraploid(Osmunda regalis, Asplenium trichomanesssp.quadrivalens) and one hexaploid(Pteris vittata).Some information on the local ecology and the existing cytological information is given for each species.