Irish wildflowers Sitemap More: Ferns

Soft Shield-fern, Polystichum setiferum

Soft Shield-fern
Polystichum setiferum
Ibheag bhog
Family: Dryopteridaceae

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

Short-stalked fronds, softer and lighter-green than those of Hard Shield fern. Usually withering in winter. 30-120cm long. Lowest leaflets more/less same length as middle leaflets. Segments with short cylindrical stalks, tips with bristle-like point. The sori are circular, usually only in upper half of frond. Pale-brown scales.

Prefers well-drained sloping ground. Shady hedgebanks, woods, roadsides and sheltered streamsides. Frequent in most of Ireland except western areas.

Similar: Hard Shield-fern, Polystitchum aculeatum


     


     



Soft Shield-fern

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