Scaly Male-fern
Scaly Male-fern - Dryopteris affinis
A robust fern forming a rosette of fairly erect fronds to 1.2 metres in length. Leaves 1- to 2-pinnate. It has dense, persistent scales on the stems which are gingery in colour. A small dark mark on the underside of the pinna near the rhachis is characteristic.
There are several subspecies which are difficult to separate
Male fern (D filix-mas)
Dark mark on underside of pinna by rhachis, dense ginger scales
Shady and damp places. Woodland on acid soils.
Semi-evergreen fern.
Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.
Occasional and local in Leicestershire and Rutland.
David Nicholls
Ratby, Wirlybones Wood
15 May 2022
David Nicholls
Ratby, Wirlybones Wood
15 May 2022
AJ Cann
Ulverscroft
11 March 2017
David Nicholls
Ratby, Wirlybones Wood
15 May 2022
David Nicholls
Ratby, Wirlybones Wood
15 May 2022
Melinda Bell
Loughborough,Beacon Hill
07 October 2020
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Chirosia betuleti
The larvae of the fly Chirosia betuleti cause galls to form on ferns, and in particular on Male-fern, Lady-fern and Buckler-ferns. Eggs are laid in the tip of the fronds, and the resulting larvae tunnel into the main stalk causing it to twist and the pinnae to become bunched and distorted like a mop head. Some of the pinnae may turn brown and die.