Dryopteris filix-mas Male-fern

One of the most common and widespread ferns in Britain. It grows in lots of different habitats such as woodland and hedgerows but also in open areas such as grassy verges. It is easily confused with other ferns, particularly those in the equally common Scaly Male-fern group (Dryopteris affinis agg.) and shares with them the shuttlecock growth form and bipinnate (twice divided) fronds. However, the stalks of Male-fern are not as scaly as those of Scaly Male-fern and there is no blotch at the junction of the pinnae and the rachis, which is a characteristic feature of Scaly Male-fern. The pinnules are clearly toothed and those near the rachis produce a little 'thumb' that overlaps the rachis. Because of this feature it can be mistaken for Narrow Scaly Male-fern (Dryopteris cambrensis), which has narrower, almost parallel sided fronds and the characteristic dark blotch. Male-fern is a very common fern in West Glamorgan.

Native