Skye Flora

Polypody

Polypodium vulgare agg

Taxonomic note: Here taken to comprise P vulgare s.s., P interjectum and P cambricum. Most plants on Skye belong to the first of these. The second has been recorded on a few occasions, the third not at all. As the majority of specimens cannot be identified to species level without a microscope, I don't propose to split them here.

Photo © Carl Farmer
6 Aug 2003 Dunvegan, Isle of Skye

Very common on rocks, walls and trees, preferring shade.

Fronds 10-45 cm long. Pinnae c 15-70 mm. Sori 1.5-3 mm.

Skye ID: A very distinctive fern, with undivided pinnae bearing yellow or orange roundish sori in two rows.

Other features: P interjectum is generally a larger plant than P vulgare and can be found on mortared walls or natural limestone rock.

Photo © Carl Farmer
6 Sep 2003 Scorrybreac, Isle of Skye
3rd fully visible sori-covered pinna from right = 15 mm long

Young sori

Photo © Carl Farmer
6 Aug 2003 Dunvegan, Isle of Skye
Pinna 25 mm long

Old sori.

Frond from above; sori beneath show through as raised bumps

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