Polystichum aculeatum (L.) Roth
(Hard Shield-fern)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesPolystichum aculeatum (Hard Shield-fern)
GenusPolystichum (shield-ferns)
FamilyDRYOPTERIDACEAE (buckler ferns)
OrderPOLYPODIALES (an order of ferns)
ClassPOLYPODIOPSIDA (a class of ferns)
PhylumPTERIDOPHYTA (ferns and allies)
SubkingdomVIRIDIPLANTAE (lower green plants)
KingdomPLANTAE (plants)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Polystichum aculeatum (Hard Shield-fern) :
1: Polystichum aculeatum (Hard Shield-fern)
5 May 2022 OSGR: ST71 50° 50’ N, 2° 20’ W Vice County: Dorset (VC 9) England
Fronds unfurling
Image 1: Fronds just unfurling
2: Polystichum aculeatum (Hard Shield-fern)
12 Aug 2009 OSGR: SX86 50° 30’ N, 3° 40’ W Vice County: South Devon (VC 3) England
Image 1: Sporangia - microscope low magnificationImage 2: Sporangia - microscope low magnification (2)Image 3: Sporangia - microscope low magnification (3)Image 4: Spores - outline view - magnifiedImage 5: Spores - outline view - magnified (2)Image 6: Spores - surface view - magnifiedImage 7: Spores - surface view - magnified (2)Image 8: Spores - surface view - highly magnifiedImage 9: Spore - surface view - highly magnified
3: Polystichum aculeatum (Hard Shield-fern)
8 Aug 2006 OSGR: SK15 53° 0’ N, 1° 50’ W Vice County: Derby (VC 57) England
juvenile plant on bank above river
Image 1: Frond - sterile - upper side - detail - close-upImage 2: Frond - sterile - upper side - detail - close-up - pale backgroundImage 3: Frond - sterile - upper side - tip - close-up - pale backgroundImage 4: Plant base - close-upImage 5: Plant - front viewImage 6: Plant - side viewImage 7: Plant - side view (2)
4: Polystichum aculeatum (Hard Shield-fern)
27 Jun 1981 OSGR: SK16 53° 10’ N, 1° 40’ W Vice County: Derby (VC 57) England
Image 1: Frond - magnified
5: Polystichum aculeatum (Hard Shield-fern)
4 May 1978 OSGR: SU82 51° 0’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: West Sussex (VC 13) England
by stream in frondose woodland
Image 1: Frond - close-up
6: Polystichum aculeatum (Hard Shield-fern)
27 Sep 1975 OSGR: SD67 54° 10’ N, 2° 30’ W Vice County: Mid-west Yorks (VC 64) England
Image 1: FrondImage 2: Plant

Polystichum aculeatum (Hard Shield-fern) may be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Polystichum aculeatum (Hard Shield-fern)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 5 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Polystichum aculeatum (Hard Shield-fern)
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