Native Britain
Dec 02, 2020
1 minute
Latin name: Dryopteris affinis
Common name: Scaly male fern
Other names: Golden male fern, golden shield fern
This robust fern can grow up to If you spot scaly male fern while you’re out exploring, it could be a sign you’re standing in a rare and special habitat — these ferns favour ancient woodland. There are three subspecies of male fern and they are quite difficult to differentiate as all grow in ‘shuttlecocks’, a descriptive term given for their shape. They will also hybridise, so it can be hard to tell which one you’re looking at.
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