Taxonomy of the morphologically and genetically diverse Dryopteris affinis fern complex (Dryopteridaceae) is still partly unresolved. Dryopteris lacunosa and D. carpatica are doubtful taxa and require further study. Due to high taxonomic distinctiveness, two new species are recognised: D. jessenii (Fraser-Jenk.) Tlałka comb. nova and D. atropes (Fraser-Jenk.) Tlałka comb. nova. As a corollary, the hybrid D. × transsilvanica (Tlałka, S. Jess., A. Rostański & Rojek) Tlałka comb. nova is elevated to the nothospecies level. Additionally, in the years 2020–2023, during studies conducted in the Western Carpathians (Pogórze Śląskie and Beskid Śląski), D. affinis subsp. affinis, a taxon new to Poland, was discovered. It was found at two localities with one and several dozen individuals, respectively, which are at risk of accidental destruction during tree felling. The average genome size in the leaves of the treated taxa ranged from 16.75 pg/2C to 16.83 pg/2C.