Dryopteris filix-mas, Male fern

Dryopteris filix-mas or Male fern is a robust deciduous fern which has an upright habit and can reach

 heights of up to 1.2 meters

It is easily growing in shaded moist sites. This specimen is located in Longford Park in the Japanese garden. Although the leaves are leftovers from the previous year it is clear that the plant is growing vigorously and nicely. The soil was damp and the sunlight barely reaches the plant.

Leaves of the male fern are bipinnate. Pinnate compound leaves consist of leaflets in pairs along the rachis without a single terminal leaf. Each leaf consist of 20-35 pinnae on each side of the rachis

 (main axis of the leaf).

Bipinnate compound leaves have leaflets which themselves are pinnate compound

Male fern multiplies by spores which are ripen in August to November.