Dryopteris aemula Hay-scented Buckler-fern

A large, attractive Buckler-fern which is widespread in Ireland and locally frequent in the west of Britain. It is a member of the Atlantic element of the British flora and mostly associated with humid woodland and plantations, particuilarly in ravines. Hay-scented Buckler-fern is easily confused with the much more common Broad Buckler-fern (Dryopteris dilatata), but it has distinctly crinkled fronds with pinnae that curve upwards at the edge and the scales on the stalk do not have a dark stripe. Also, unlike Broad Buckler-fern, it remains green throughout the winter. There are few recent, substantiated records of Hay-scented Buckler-fern in West Glamorgan, but given the recent resurgences of hyperoceanic and Atlantic species in the county it should be searched for in suitable valley and plantation habitats.

Native