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

Pteris vittata

Common name

Ladder Brake

Pteris vittata Ladder Brake
© Copyright
Natural History Museum
Latin names
ClassPteridopsida
OrderPolypodiales
FamilyPteridaceae
GenusPteris
Speciesvittata
Geographic details
Habitatwet rocks and walls
Soil typetolerant
NativeNo

Dryopteris carthusiana

Common name

Narrow buckler-fern

Dryopteris carthusiana Narrow buckler-fern
© Copyright
Natural History Museum
Latin names
ClassPteridopsida
OrderPolypodiales
FamilyAspidiaceae
GenusDryopteris
Speciescarthusiana
Alternative Family nameDryopteridaceae
Geographic details
Habitatwet woodlands, fens
Soil typeacidic
DistributionLocally common
NativeYes

Asplenium ceterach

Common name

Rustyback

Asplenium ceterach Rustyback
© Copyright
Natural History Museum
Latin names
ClassPteridopsida
OrderPolypodiales
FamilyAspleniaceae
GenusAsplenium
Speciesceterach
Geographic details
Habitatwet rocks and walls
Soil typealkaline
DistributionSW W England Ireland Wales
NativeYes