This fern which looks remarkably like the very common Dryopteris dilatata (Broad Buckler-fern), lives in moist places and ravines according to Stace. We couldn't call the dark stream bank where it was found a ravine I suppose but it was certainly not easy to get a photograph.

It has a distinctly western distribution being common on the north western coasts of Scotland, throughout Cornwall, west Wales and western Ireland.

Near Greena moor nature reserve, Cornwall 20th July 2008

Added on 7th September 2008, updated 15th December 2008, updated 28th March 2010