Irish wildflowers Sitemap More: Ferns

Hay-scented Buckler-fern, Dryopteris aemula

Hay-scented Buckler-fern
Dryopteris aemula
Raithneach chumhra
Family: Dryopteridaceae

Spores ripen July-September. Semi-evergreen. Native.

Fresh fronds have hay-like scent, not obvious when dried.
Fronds triangular, 15-60cm long. Lowest segment (pinnea) longest. Some segments curling upwards at tips giving crimped appearance. Many tiny glands on undersides. Sori in two rows nearer segment centre than margins.
Long stems, dark at bases, uniform narrow-triangular brown scales without dark centres. Upright rhizome.

Damp mossy woods, conifer plantations, shady banks, hedges, cliffs. Frequent in SW, W, NW. Very rare in central Ireland.


     



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