Irish wildflowers Sitemap More: Ferns

Scaly Male Fern, Dryopteris affinis

Scaly Male Fern
Dryopteris affinis
Raithneach ghainneach
Family: Dryopteridaceae

Spores ripen July - August. Deciduous or evergreen. Native.

Very similar to Male Fern, D. filix-mas but stems densely covered with orange-brown scales and frond segments only toothed at tips, not sides.
Very variable, three subspecies are reconised but are very difficult to identify.

Very frequent in W and N, more local distribution in the rest of Ireland. Deciduous and coniferous woodland, shady hedges, stream banks, mountain ledges.


     


     



Scaly Male Fern

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