THE MALE FERN DRTOPTERIS FILIX-MAS 



Fig. 29. Mature fertile pinnae of the three taxonomic species formerly included in the Male Fern 

 {Dryopteris Filix-mas sensAat.). Natural size. From left to right D. abbreviata (Lam. & DC.) Newm. 

 from the Mourne Mountains (east Ireland), D. Filix-mas sens. strict. emend., and triploid D. Barren 

 Newm. Further description in text. 



(i) The leaf texture is softly herbaceous* as opposed to coriaceous,* and decay in 

 autumn is fairly rapid in consequence. 



(2) When viewed from above the leaf is flat or convex but not concave (as m 



D. abbreviata) . 



* The words 'papery' and 'leathery' have been frequently used for these characters in the literature 

 for amateurs. 



45 



