Ferns for ID Please

[jdoherty]

All of these pics were taken in N.Ireland. I'd appreciate any help with identification.

Thanks, John.

[JennyS]

Hi John - have you any photographs showing the undersides of the fronds with ripe spores?

[Lancashire Lad]

Hi John, Looking through your pics, I noticed that you've posted Fern 4 twice, and haven't posted Fern 1 (although that one shows up in the thumbnails when browsing any of the posted 3 photo's at full size).

I'm a beginner with ferns, just starting to try to ID them, so I'll probably be way out. But I'll give it my best shot from the photo's and will check back with interest to see what others have to say. - Very difficult without close-ups of individual pinnule's and sori. (And for me - still very difficult even when I do have that info ).

No1 (The one that isn't shown in your post) - Soft Shield Fern - Polystichum setiferum.
No2 - I think one of the Male Ferns - Dryopteris sp. (possibly D.filix-mas).
No3 & No4 - I think both look like Lady Fern - Athyrium filix-femina.

Regards
Mike.

[jdoherty]

My apologies. I don't know what happened but here is the pic I should have posted.

[Tiggrx]

I would agree with Mike's ID's. Though number 3 looks like quite a young plant, so may not be quite typical.