{"id":121523,"date":"2025-11-22T14:50:04","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T14:50:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/?p=121523"},"modified":"2026-02-02T14:35:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T14:35:19","slug":"ladies-fern-athyrium-filix-femina-identification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2025\/11\/22\/ladies-fern-athyrium-filix-femina-identification\/","title":{"rendered":"Ladies fern (Athyrium filix-femina) Identification"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><strong>Ladies fern \/ Spring \/ Summer \/ Autumn \/ Edible<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-121523 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2025\/11\/22\/ladies-fern-athyrium-filix-femina-identification\/ladies-fern-back-of-a-leaf-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-back-of-a-leaf-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-back-of-a-leaf-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-back-of-a-leaf-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-back-of-a-leaf-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-back-of-a-leaf-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2025\/11\/22\/ladies-fern-athyrium-filix-femina-identification\/ladies-fern-shot-of-a-leaf-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern.-shot-of-a-leaf-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern.-shot-of-a-leaf-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern.-shot-of-a-leaf-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern.-shot-of-a-leaf-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern.-shot-of-a-leaf-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2025\/11\/22\/ladies-fern-athyrium-filix-femina-identification\/ladies-fern-shot-of-the-stem-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-shot-of-the-stem-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-shot-of-the-stem-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-shot-of-the-stem-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-shot-of-the-stem-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2025\/11\/22\/ladies-fern-athyrium-filix-femina-identification\/ladies-fern-plant-oin-summer-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-plant-oin-summer-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-plant-oin-summer-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-plant-oin-summer-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-plant-oin-summer-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-plant-oin-summer-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2025\/11\/22\/ladies-fern-athyrium-filix-femina-identification\/ladies-fern-in-situ-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-in-situ-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-in-situ-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-in-situ-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-in-situ-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-in-situ-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2025\/11\/22\/ladies-fern-athyrium-filix-femina-identification\/ladies-fern-shot-of-the-leaf-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-shot-of-the-leaf-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-shot-of-the-leaf-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-shot-of-the-leaf-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-shot-of-the-leaf-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-shot-of-the-leaf-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<h2><b>Common Names<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lady fern, Female fern, female polypody<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>Botanical Name<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Athyrium filix-femina<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>Scientific Classification<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Kingdom<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Plantae<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Order<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013Polypodiales\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Family<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Athyriaceae<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>Physical Characteristics for <\/b><strong>Ladies fern<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ferns are different to the majority of plants we are familiar with, they are in a different category called pteridophytes as they don\u2019t produce seeds but spores. They are very ancient plants, the first ferns grew on earth 300 million years ago!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ladies fern is a\u00a0 medium to large hardy deciduous fern forming bushy rosettes of feathery ladder-like fronds. Growing to a max height of 1.2 but most commonly about 80 cm, they can be seen from March to November.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>Leaves<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leaves are feathery lance shaped and twice to three times pinnate, yellowy- green in colour and emerging horizontally but drooping over at the tip. The fond tapers in gradually toward the tip. The segments have toothed margins. The midrib can be red or green. The Lady fern spreads out equally in height and width and is clump forming.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The underside of ferns have sori (spore bearing structures) on Lady fern they are curved J or C-shaped and this is a key characteristic.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-121523 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2025\/11\/22\/ladies-fern-athyrium-filix-femina-identification\/ladies-fern-shot-of-the-leaf-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-shot-of-the-leaf-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-shot-of-the-leaf-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-shot-of-the-leaf-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-shot-of-the-leaf-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-shot-of-the-leaf-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2025\/11\/22\/ladies-fern-athyrium-filix-femina-identification\/ladies-fern-shot-of-a-leaf-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern.-shot-of-a-leaf-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern.-shot-of-a-leaf-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern.-shot-of-a-leaf-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern.-shot-of-a-leaf-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern.-shot-of-a-leaf-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2025\/11\/22\/ladies-fern-athyrium-filix-femina-identification\/ladies-fern-back-of-a-leaf-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-back-of-a-leaf-min-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-back-of-a-leaf-min-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-back-of-a-leaf-min-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-back-of-a-leaf-min-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ladies-fern-back-of-a-leaf-min-50x50.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>Stem<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Green or red with a groove.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No flowers, fruit or seed<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Habitat<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Native to the UK, wide spread and fairly frequent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preferring acidic and humid conditions but can tolerate a variety, found in woodland or shaded hedgerow with rich moist soils as the dampness aids with spore dispersal.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Known Hazards\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Occasional reports of sickness but this is likely due to mis-identification or improper cooking.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to lack of information on safety during pregnancy and breast feeding, avoid during this time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only the young furled up fiddleheads are edible and absolutely must be cooked<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s a lot of varying information on ferns being edible, reports of them being carcinogenic is referring mainly to bracken. Lady fern is not known to be carcinogenic but does contain an enzyme called thiaminase which can break down vitamin B1. However with cooking properly this is greatly reduced. Uncooked fiddleheads will make the vast majority of people quite sick.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Could be Confused with<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other ferns, including Buckler-ferns and Male-fern, which are difficult to tell apart.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ferns can be a little difficult to separate from each other, since only a few species are edible this is definitely something to take your time with. You may need to spend a season observing them first in mature stages before collecting for food. A great way to learn is to buy a Lady fern from a garden centre where you can closely observe as it grows and be 100% sure of species, just be aware they may have been treated with chemicals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bracken is definitely one to avoid, it has carcinogenic properties and fortunately the young shoots look quite different, emerging as a trio of fronds and sori that run in a line along the leaf edge. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ID guide link.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dryopteris\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dryopteris<\/a> is a genus of fern of over 300 species with some that are quite similar to Lady fern. Dryopteris are known commonly as Wood ferns, Male ferns and Buckler ferns. Some of these species have fiddle necks that are totally covered in brown papery skin which Lady fern will never be and only has a few small pieces of the brown skin.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Male fern- Dryopteris filix-mas TOXIC<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is one of the most common fern species in the UK especially if on limestone soil. Its important not to mix this one up as it&#8217;s considered very toxic to ingest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Differentiating features -The Male fern has brown papery skin covering the fiddleneck that remains on the mature stem. Lady fern only has very little in patches on the emerged erect fiddleneck that is easily removed. On open fonds the Male fern has rounded sori ( spore producing structures on the underside of the leaf) and the Lady has J or C shaped sori.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2025\/03\/18\/ostrich-fern-matteuccia-struthiop...\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ostrich fern (<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Matteuccia struthiopteris) is similar but not a problem as it\u2019s also edible as long as its cooked property. It\u2019s less common being a naturalised garden escapee. It has a more prominent U shaped groove also both fertile and sterile leaves whereas Lady fern only has fertile. Ostrich fern also has very little brown papery skin on the fiddleneck.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Edible Uses<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><b>Edible with caution- Risk of mis-identification, they also must be cooked, eat occasionally.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A seasonal delicacy! Only the young furled up fiddleheads are edible and absolutely must be cooked, eating them raw will very likely cause sickness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Firstly thoroughly clean the fiddle heads, and remove any brown papery skin, this is important as there can be organisms or trace toxins on them that can potentially cause illness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However you decide to prepare the fiddleheads pre-cook them by boiling for 10-15 minutes first this ensures they wont be unevenly or under cooked, it removes bitterness bringing out their flavour and can also help them keep their fresh green colour. Saut\u00e9ing is the most favoured way to finish them, but you can also roast or pickle them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just bear in mind they can go mushy and brown if over cooked.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They taste somewhere between asparagus and broccoli.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2024\/05\/29\/edible-ferns-in-the-uk\/\">blog on edible ferns<\/a> for deeper detail in preparation and cooking tips<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Timing depends on climate but they typically start emerging from April. Only harvest those that are still furled up. You can use the whole stem as long as it\u2019s still coiled up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only take a few from each fern so it can still grow new leaves for that season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Notes on Herbal uses<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High in vitamin A and C also antioxidants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Extra notes from the Foragers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lady fern is very hardy and can tolerate well below -20, it grows abundantly in Finland<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its common names &#8220;lady fern&#8221; and &#8220;female fern&#8221; are for its elegance and delicacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the mid 1800&#8217;s the Victorians became obsessed with ferns, this craze was nicknamed <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pteridomania, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">they were dug up in mass from the wild causing substantial ecological damage. Ferns became prominent in decorative design the fronds were used as stencils and even the famous custard cream biscuits if you look closely are decorated with ferns!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two Chinese princes who were said to have famously survived exile in the wilderness for a long while on a diet of fern fiddleheads.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>References<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/foragerchef.com\/how-to-identify-and-cook-fiddlehead-ferns\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ps:\/\/foragerchef.com\/how-to-identify-and-cook-fiddlehead-ferns\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Matteuccia\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Matteuccia<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/vitamins\/ai\/ingredientmono-492\/ostrich-fern\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/vitamins\/ai\/ingredientmono-492\/ostrich-fern<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/itsavegworldafterall.com\/sauteed-fiddleheads-with-garlic-lemon-butter\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/itsavegworldafterall.com\/sauteed-fiddleheads-with-garlic-lemon-butter\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dnr.alaska.gov\/ag\/akpmc\/pdf\/Fiddleheads.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/dnr.alaska.gov\/ag\/akpmc\/pdf\/Fiddleheads.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wildlifetrusts.org\/wildlife-explorer\/ferns-and-horsetails\/male-fern#:~:text=The%20male-fern%20is%20a,and%20ditches%20throughout%20the%20UK\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.wildlifetrusts.org\/wildlife-explorer\/ferns-and-horsetails\/male-fern#:~:text=The%20male-fern%20is%20a,and%20ditches%20throughout%20the%20UK<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/vitamins\/ai\/ingredientmono-720\/male-fern\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/vitamins\/ai\/ingredientmono-720\/male-fern<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturespot.org\/species\/male-fern\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.naturespot.org\/species\/male-fern<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ladies fern \/ Spring \/ Summer \/ Autumn \/ Edible Common Names Lady fern, Female fern, female polypody Botanical Name Athyrium filix-femina Scientific Classification Kingdom \u2013 Plantae Order \u2013Polypodiales\u00a0 Family \u2013 Athyriaceae Physical Characteristics for Ladies fern Ferns are different to the majority of plants we are familiar with, they&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":121557,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1778,1780,85,101,86,1776,1777,1],"tags":[2746,239,152,2749,2750,2084,2748,104,238],"class_list":["post-121523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-autumn","category-edible","category-foraging","category-plant-identification","category-plants","category-spring","category-summer","category-uncategorised","tag-athyrium-filix-femina","tag-autumn","tag-edible","tag-female-fern","tag-female-polypody","tag-fern","tag-lady-fern","tag-spring","tag-summer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121523"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":142831,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121523\/revisions\/142831"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}