Image of hard shield-fern

Description:

Slo.: bodea podlesnica - syn: Polystichum lobatum (Huds.) Chevall. - Habitat: riparian mixed forest, Salix eleagnos, Picea abies, Fagus sylvatica dominant trees; moderately steep mountain slope, northwest aspect; calcareous, ground; in shade, high air humidity; partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies; elevation 560 m (1.850 feet); average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 6-8 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: forest soil. Comment: Polystichum aculeatum is mainly a montane fern and quite common in the Upper Soa river region. It grows in the whole Alpine belt and almost in all other European mountains. The plant is tolerant regarding nutrients and chemical properties of the soil. It only moderately prefers calcareous ground and humid environment. Its winter resistant, shiny leaves can be easily found during winter months. Characteristic trait are large and abundant brown scales on its stems, particularly at their base Ref.: (1) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 241. (2) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 101. (3) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 92. (4) B. Marbach, C.Kainz, Moose, Farne und Flechten, BLV (2002), p 24.