Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Dryopteridaceae ⟩ Polystichum aculeatum / hard shield-fern

Polystichum aculeatum (L.) Roth

hard shield-fern (Dryopteridaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadNegligible tendencyNE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Polystichum aculeatum grows in woodlands across most of the British Isles, but is most abundant towards the north.

Bourton-on-the-Water (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2019-11-13

 hard shield-fern / Polystichum aculeatum: _Polystichum aculeatum_ grows in woodlands across most of the British Isles, but is most abundant towards the north.

The pinnules closest to the rachis are sessile with acute angles at the base of each in Polystichum aculeatum; in Polystichum setiferum, they are often stalked and right-angled.

Oberösterreich, Austria; 2006-12-03

 hard shield-fern / Polystichum aculeatum: The pinnules closest to the rachis are sessile with acute angles at the base of each in _Polystichum aculeatum_; in _Polystichum setiferum_, they are often stalked and right-angled.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne