D. oreades is an uncommon fern is restricted to Wales, Western Scotland and Northern England and looks at first sight just like an ordinary male fern (Dryopteris filix-mas). The smaller pinules are entire which means they have no or very few toothed edges and underneath there are only two or three sori (the bodies containing sporangia or spore capsule) where in D. filix-mas (Male fern) there are usually at least six.

Bank of River Tees near bridge 21st June 2005

Added on October 24th 2005, updated 16th December 2008, updated 28th March 2010