Family : Dryopteridaceae

Broad buckler fern.

Synonym : D. austriaca.

This fern of cool woodlands, forms an elegant upright clump. Its broad triangular fronds are tripinnate. On the stipes, the scales are  slender and bicoloured, a dark centre framed by light brown borders. Looking at the scales , it is the way to distinguish this species from the others Dryopteris (D. carthusiana...) . It has a strong preference for acidic soils, in shade. Semi-evergreen. Height : 60/100cm. Hardiness : -30°C.