Fern for ID

[Peter W]

Can anyone identify this fern I found today growing in a wall at our local churchyard in Surrey?

Many thanks,

Peter

[Tiggrx]

Looks like Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum). Young sporelings in walls often are very misleading.

There is also Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) in the second picture.

[Cheryl]

I don't actually know but I'd guess at Hay-Scented Fern - Dryopteris aemula ?

You didn't happen to crush it to see what it smells like did you

[Peter W]

Thanks for the replies, I'm more inclined towards the Hay Scented Buckler fern (Dryopteris aemula) at the moment. The pinnae are themselves pinnate which I don't think is the case with bracken, also bracken is not usually found in a flint wall, finally there were mutliple stems coming from one crown, which again would suggest Dryopteris aemula.

Next time I'm there I will try the 'crush' test!

Peter

[Tiggrx]

I think in fact what you are calling pinnae are in fact the entire fronds growing off the main stem.

Hay-scented Buckler-fern is a very rare fern away from the west.

[Bub-les]

looks very like bracken to me
Barbara

[aeshna5]

There appear to be 3 species of fern to me in the 2nd photo- Maidenhair Spleenwort, then Black Spleenwort to right + then what I agree is Bracken.

[Peter W]

I'm convinced, bracken it is!

Peter

[Deer Stalker]

I say Bracken too. The fronds arent right for Hay-scented Buckler.

[Meta menardi]

I have to plump for Bracken too, that just looks so... Brackeny. Even for a small fern it seems quite robust.