"We're off to find Filmy Ferns." I've said that before and we failed to do so, but I was more sure this time as I has a reliable report from an NRW field worker. The only question was whether we would make it to their sites - in a narrow gorge on the edge of Abergwesyn Commons.
We did make it and found the Filmy ferns lower down in the gorge than we might have had to go (to the previous reported site). It made a great expedition for us and we were delighted by the gorge itself and the various plants we found there.
Before we had gone very far there were trees (and ground evidence) to discuss. Joan was sure that the evidence from the litter was unequivocal for Sweet Chestnut but we couldn't spot the tree. Eventually (on the way back) we found very definite and unmistakeable fruits confirming this species' presence. Joan had stuck to her guns and was right. We also found Beech on the way back and the correct fruits for that. I have to say the Sweet Chestnut debris represented a tree far from its comfort zone and were very poorly developed!
There were great displays of Polypody on the trees as we set out:
Intermediate Polypody,
Llawredynen ganolig
or
Polypodium interjectum
The steep sides of the gorge up ahead in the mist.
Exploring the lower reaches.
There were lovely cascades of this:
Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage,
Eglyn cyferbynddail
or
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium
The first cluster of the target ferns we found.
This picture from a later site shows the well-developed indusia containing sporangia that hold the spores.
Sue at one of the sites.
More pictures (25/3/19 - Thanks Sue)
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