Dryopteris aemula Hay-scented Buckler-fern

A large, attractive Buckler-fern which is widespread in Ireland and locally frequent in the west of Britain. It is a member of the Atlantic element of the British flora and mostly associated with humid woodland and plantations, particuilarly in ravines. Hay-scented Buckler-fern is easily confused with the much more common Broad Buckler-fern (Dryopteris dilatata), but it has distinctly crinkled fronds with pinnae that curve upwards at the edge and the scales on the stalk do not have a dark stripe. Also, unlike Broad Buckler-fern, it remains green throughout the winter. It was known from the Melincwrt Valley in the 19th Century but large numbers of plants were removed there by Victorian collectors. Dligent searches in more recent decdes have been unsuccessful in relocating it and it is presumed to be extinct there now (see account in Flora of Glamorgan, 1994). Elsewhere in West Glamorgan there are some old and unsubstantiated records and some from the headstreams valleys in the Vale of Neath may actually be in Brecon. Given the recent resurgences of hyperoceanic and Atlantic species in the county it should be searched for in suitable valley and plantation habitats.

Native