Other Plant Species

The Lady Fern

Ferns are non-flowering plants that can grow in shaded conditions. Because they do not produce flowers they have no seeds, instead they produce spores. The Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) is a species that is found in damp woods, hedgerows, rocks and marshes.

Betsey Hickey

The Lady Fern
Betsey Hickey

The Lady Fern

Ferns are non-flowering plants that can grow in shaded conditions. Because they do not produce flowers they have no seeds, instead they produce spores. The Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) is a species that is found in damp woods, hedgerows, rocks and marshes.

Betsey Hickey

Enlarge image

Bracket fungus Dryad's Saddle

This view of Bracket fungus Dryad's Saddle (Polyporus squamosus) is an edible species of mushroom. It can be found growing out of half-dead trees (in this case an ash (Fraxinus excelsior)), where it will explode and be quickly eaten by insects, leaving only a dried up carcass. It can grow from 10-60cm in width, 10-30cm deep and up to 5cm thick.

Betsey Hickey

Bracket fungus Dryad's Saddle
Betsey Hickey

Bracket fungus Dryad's Saddle

This view of Bracket fungus Dryad's Saddle (Polyporus squamosus) is an edible species of mushroom. It can be found growing out of half-dead trees (in this case an ash (Fraxinus excelsior)), where it will explode and be quickly eaten by insects, leaving only a dried up carcass. It can grow from 10-60cm in width, 10-30cm deep and up to 5cm thick.

Betsey Hickey

Enlarge image

Many different habitats and species of plants both flowering and non-flowering can be found in County Carlow some examples would be the lady fern, golden rod, bracket fungus dryad's saddle and rarer species such as green winged orchid and pale butterwort.

The Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) is a non-flowering plants that can grow in shaded conditions. Because they do not produce flowers they have no seeds, instead they produce spores. The fern is a species that is found in damp woods, hedgerows, rocks and marshes.
 

Many plants have medicinal properties such as Golden rod (Solidago virgaurea), which can also be found in County Carlow. It is useful for the treatment of upper respiratory catarrh, whether acute or chronic. It may be used in combination with other herbs in the treatment of influenza. Also used for the treatment of flatulent indigestion. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is also used to promote the healing of wounds.

The Bracket fungus Dryad's Saddle (Polyporus squamosus) is an edible species of mushroom. It can be found growing out of half-deed trees - in this case an ash (Fraxinus excelsior) - where it will explode and be quickly eaten by insects, leaving only a dried up carcass. It can grow from 10-60cm in width, 10-30cm deep and up to 5cm thick.
 

Pale Butterwort (Pinguicula lusitanica) is another plant of wet sites such as bogs and bog flush. While this plant is not rare nationally it is rare for County Carlow.