Irish wildflowers Sitemap More: Ferns

Lady-fern, Athyrium filix-femina

Lady-fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Raithneach Mhuire
Family: Woodsiaceae

Spores ripen July-August. Deciduous. Native.

Delicate feathery appearance. Forms dense clumps.
Pale-green, soft, slightly limp fronds, erect or spreading.
Fronds twice pinnate but can appear 3-pinnate. 30-100cm long.
Sori elongated, curved (C or J shaped).
Short erect stems with dark-brown scales spreading up stalks.
Very variable, coarser growth in more open habitats.

Very frequent except in central Ireland. Prefers moist, well-drained acidic soils. Damp woods, streamsides. Also found on shady hedgebanks and drainage ditches.


     



Above: Lady Fern, young frond. March 2008

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