Irish wildflowers Sitemap More: Ferns

Brittle Bladder-fern, Cystopteris fragilis

Brittle Bladder-fern
Cystopteris fragilis
Raithneach bhriosc
Family: Athyriaceae

Spores ripen July-August. Native.

Variable. Tuft of delicate 2-3 pinnate, lanceolate fronds, 5-30cm long. Long stalks, dark-brown with scales at base, green with fewer scales above. Two rows of sori, on each side of the mid-rib, covered by inflated white, oval indusia.

Mainly found in west and north Ireland on base-rich rocks, in damp, shaded rock-crevices and on walls.

Similar: Diaphanous Bladder-fern, Cystopteris diaphana


Brittle Bladder-fern, Cystopteris fragilis       Brittle Bladder-fern, Cystopteris fragilis


Brittle Bladder-fern, Cystopteris fragilis
Brittle Bladder-fern, Cystopteris fragilis. Comeragh mountains, Co.Waterford. July 2009

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