Pteridophyta or Ferns

Adder's tongue
Beech fern
In the British Isles the Phylum Pteridophyta is represented by about 64 native species which are taxonomically classified into two Classes, five Orders, fourteen Families and twenty-four Genera.

This site aims to clarify and explain these relationships and provide information about the native species found in the British Isles. There is a Ferns search facility which aims to ease identification of specimens and you can Browse a list of species.

The Ferns Taxonomy page attempts to explain taxonomic relationships and there is a searcheable Glossary.

If you click on any of the images of ferns on this page you will see a slideshow of images and there are some more images in the Image Gallery

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Hard shield-fern
Lady fern

Some random samples

Pilularia globulifera

Common name

Pillwort

Pilularia globulifera Pillwort
© Copyright
Natural History Museum
Latin names
ClassPteridopsida
OrderSalviniales
FamilyMarsileaceae
GenusPilularia
Speciesglobulifera
Geographic details
HabitatLake margin
Soil typeacidic
Distributionscattered
NativeYes

Dryopteris affinis affinis

Common name

Western Scaly Male Fern

Dryopteris affinis affinisWestern Scaly Male Fern
© Copyright
Natural History Museum
Latin names
ClassPteridopsida
OrderPolypodiales
FamilyAspidiaceae
GenusDryopteris
Speciesaffinis
Subspeciesaffinis
Alternative Family nameDryopteridaceae
Geographic details
HabitatWoodland, open hill, scree
Soil typetolerant
DistributionThroughout British Isles, not E
NativeYes

Polystichum lonchitis

Common name

Holly Fern

Polystichum lonchitis Holly Fern
© Copyright
Natural History Museum
Latin names
ClassPteridopsida
OrderPolypodiales
FamilyAspidiaceae
GenusPolystichum
Specieslonchitis
Geographic details
Habitathigh mountains
Soil typealkaline
DistributionRare in W.Ireland, N.Wales,N.England, Scotland
NativeYes