Skye Flora

Scaly Male Fern


Dryopteris affinis

 

Dryopteris borreri

Photo © Carl Farmer
23 Nov 2002 Scorrybreac

Common in woods and shady places, also frequent in the open among rocks on hillsides and in mountains

Fronds typically 30-120 cm.  Pinnules 2-5 mm wide. Sori 0.5-2 mm wide.

Skye ID: Brown stalk scales are profuse even midway up rachis, as in pics below.  Pinnae have a dark spot at base.

Other features: Very noticeable at a distance in early summer when the yellowish-green fronds appear on the hillsides; these become darker later in the year.  Sori have kidney-shaped pale covering (indusium).  Pinnule teeth most numerous towards end of pinnule.  A very variable plant, some specimens are close to Male Fern in appearance.

 

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Dryopteris borreri

Photo © Carl Farmer
1 Sep 2002 Scorrybreac

     
     
Dryopteris borreri

Photo © Carl Farmer
23 Nov 2002 Scorrybreac

  Dryopteris borreri

Photo © Carl Farmer
23 Nov 2002 Scorrybreac

     
Dryopteris borreri

Photo © Carl Farmer
23 Nov 2002 Scorrybreac
 

Showing dark spot at base of pinna (on pinna midrib where it joins main stem)

 

Dryopteris borreri

Photo © Carl Farmer
23 Nov 2002 Scorrybreac
 

Showing dark spot again and the crowded shaggy scales, which on most fern species are only crowded like this at the lower end of the stalk, before the pinnae begin.


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