Checklist

Listed below are all extant British species of ferns and their allies, rushes and sedges. I have excluded the handful of species which occur in Ireland but not in Britain, these being Moore's Horsetail, Irish Spleenwort, Kerry Mousetail Fern, Silver Tree-fern and Broad-leaved Rush. Jersey Fern has also been struck from the list seeing as it doesn't occur in Britain.

I've also omitted some of the more tenuously naturalised species; the occasional garden throw-outs which fail to persist, species only found in ornamental plantings, deliberate introductions and such like. Many of the plants listed below are non-native aliens and some of these are exceedingly localised, as indeed are a good number of the native species. With this in mind, my hope is to encounter around half of the species listed below during 2026. Many will be entirely new species for me, whilst others fall into the 'only seen it once or twice before' category. This year is going to be something of a steep learning curve for me!

Seq	Taxa Group	Vernacular	Species
1	Clubmosses	Fir Clubmoss	Huperzia selago
2	Clubmosses	Marsh Clubmoss	Lycopodiella inundata
3	Clubmosses	Stag's-horn Clubmoss	Lycopodium clavatum
4	Clubmosses	One-coned Clubmoss	Lycopodium lagopus
5	Clubmosses	Interrupted Clubmoss	Lycopodium annotinum
6	Clubmosses	Alpine Clubmoss	Diphasiastrum alpinum
7	Clubmosses	Issler's Clubmoss	Diphasiastrum x issleri
8	Clubmosses	Lesser Clubmoss	Selaginella selaginoides
9	Clubmosses	Krauss's Clubmoss	Selaginella kraussiana
10	Quillworts	Quillwort	Isoetes lacustris
11	Quillworts	Spring Quillwort	Isoetes echinospora
12	Quillworts	Land Quillwort	Isoetes histrix
13	Eusporangiate ferns	Adder's-tongue	Ophioglossum vulgatum
14	Eusporangiate ferns	Small Adder's-tongue	Ophioglossum azoricum
15	Eusporangiate ferns	Least Adder's-tongue	Ophioglossum lusitanicum
16	Eusporangiate ferns	Nordic Moonwort	Botrychium nordicum
17	Eusporangiate ferns	Moonwort	Botrychium lunaria
18	Horsetails	Rough Horsetail	Equisetum hyemale
19	Horsetails	Mackay's Horsetail	Equisetum x trachyodon
20	Horsetails	Branched Horsetail	Equisetum ramosissimum
21	Horsetails	Southern Horsetail	Equisetum  x meridionale
22	Horsetails	Variegated Horsetail	Equisetum variegatum
23	Horsetails	Water Horsetail	Equisetum fluviatile
24	Horsetails	Shore Horsetail	Equisetum x litorale
25	Horsetails	Field Horsetail	Equisetum arvense
26	Horsetails	Shady Horsetail	Equisetum pratense
27	Horsetails	Wood Horsetail	Equisetum sylvaticum
28	Horsetails	Marsh Horsetail	Equisetum palustre
29	Horsetails	Great Horsetail	Equisetum telmateia
30	True Ferns	Royal Fern	Osmunda regalis
31	True Ferns	Tunbridge Filmy-fern	Hymenophyllum tunbrigense
32	True Ferns	Wilson's Filmy-fern	Hymenophyllum wilsonii
33	True Ferns	Veined Bristle-fern	Trichomanes venosum
34	True Ferns	Killarney Fern	Trichomanes speciosum
35	True Ferns	Pillwort	Pilularia globulifera
36	True Ferns	Water Fern	Azolla filiculoides
37	True Ferns	Australian Tree-fern	Dicksonia antarctica
38	True Ferns	Bracken	Pteridium aquilinum
39	True Ferns	Pinewood Bracken	Pteridium pinetorum
40	True Ferns	Pig-fern	Hypolepsis ambigua
41	True Ferns	Parsley Fern	Cryptogramma crispa
42	True Ferns	Delta Maidenhair Fern	Adiantum raddianum
43	True Ferns	American Maidenhair Fern	Adiantum pedatum
44	True Ferns	Maidenhair Fern	Adiantum capillus-veneris
45	True Ferns	Ladder Brake	Pteris vittata
46	True Ferns	Eastern Spider Brake	Pteris multifida
47	True Ferns	Ribbon Fern	Pteris cretica
48	True Ferns	Spider Brake	Pteris incompleta
49	True Ferns	Tender Brake	Pteris tremula
50	True Ferns	Jungle Brake	Pteris umbrosa
51	True Ferns	Oak Fern	Gymnocarpium dryopteris
52	True Ferns	Limestone Fern	Gymnocarpium robertianum
53	True Ferns	Brittle Bladder-fern	Cystopteris fragilis
54	True Ferns	Upland Brittle Bladder-fern	Cystopteris pseudoregia
55	True Ferns	Alpine Bladder-fern	Cystopteris alpina
56	True Ferns	Greenish Bladder-fern	Cystopteris diaphana
57	True Ferns	Dickie's Bladder-fern	Cystopteris dickieana
58	True Ferns	Mountain Bladder-fern	Cystopteris montana
59	True Ferns	Hart's-tongue	Phyllitis scolopendrium
60	True Ferns	Jackson's Spleenwort	X Asplenophyllitis jacksonii
61	True Ferns	Confluent Spleenwort	X Asplenophyllitis confluens
62	True Ferns	Black Spleenwort	Asplenium adiantum-nigrum
63	True Ferns	Sea Spleenwort	Asplenium marinum
64	True Ferns	Lanceolate Spleenwort	Asplenium obovatum
65	True Ferns	Maidenhair Spleenwort	Asplenium trichomanes
66	True Ferns	Green Spleenwort	Asplenium viride
67	True Ferns	Wall-rue	Asplenium ruta-muraria
68	True Ferns	Forked Spleenwort	Asplenium septentrionale
69	True Ferns	Rustyback	Ceterach officinarum
70	True Ferns	Marsh Fern	Thelypteris palustris
71	True Ferns	Beech Fern	Phegopteris connectilis
72	True Ferns	Lemon-scented Fern	Oreopteris limbosperma
73	True Ferns	Oblong Woodsia	Woodsia ilvensis
74	True Ferns	Alpine Woodsia	Woodsia alpina
75	True Ferns	Lady-fern	Athyrium filix-femina
76	True Ferns	Alpine Lady-fern	Athyrium distentifolium
77	True Ferns	Newman's Lady-fern	Athyrium flexile
78	True Ferns	Hard-fern	Blechnum spicant
79	True Ferns	Antarctic Hard-fern	Blechnum penna-marina
80	True Ferns	Chilean Hard-fern	Blechnum cordatum
81	True Ferns	Chain Fern	Woodwardia radicans
82	True Ferns	Ostrich Fern	Matteuccia struthiopteris
83	True Ferns	Sensitive Fern	Onoclea sensibilis
84	True Ferns	Japanese Shield-fern	Polystichum polyblepharum
85	True Ferns	Soft Shield-fern	Polystichum setiferum
86	True Ferns	Hard Shield-fern	Polystichum aculeatum
87	True Ferns	Holly-fern	Polystichum lonchitis
88	True Ferns	Korean Rock-fern	Polystichum luctuosum
89	True Ferns	Western Sword-fern	Polystichum munitum
90	True Ferns	House Holly-fern	Cyrtomium falcatum
91	True Ferns	Fortune's Holly-fern	Cyrtomium fortunei
92	True Ferns	Shaggy Shield-fern	Dryopteris cycadina
93	True Ferns	Mountain Male-fern	Dryopteris oreades
94	True Ferns	Common Male-fern	Dryopteris filix-mas
95	True Ferns	Elegant Male-fern	Dryopteris lacunosa
96	True Ferns	Golden Scaly Male-fern	Dryopteris affinis
97	True Ferns	Borrer's Scaly Male-fern	Dryopteris borreri
98	True Ferns	Narrow Scaly Male-fern	Dryopteris cambrensis
99	True Ferns	Scottish Male-fern	Dryopteris pseudocomplexa
100	True Ferns	Alpine Male-fern	Dryopteris pseudodisjuncta
101	True Ferns	Japanese Buckler-fern	Dryopteris erythrosora
102	True Ferns	Hay-scented Buckler-fern	Dryopteris aemula
103	True Ferns	Rigid Buckler-fern	Dryopteris submontana
104	True Ferns	Crested Buckler-fern	Dryopteris cristata
105	True Ferns	Narrow Buckler-fern	Dryopteris carthusiana
106	True Ferns	Broad Buckler-fern	Dryopteris dilatata
107	True Ferns	Northern Buckler-fern	Dryopteris expansa
108	True Ferns	Polypody	Polypodium vulgare
109	True Ferns	Intermediate Polypody	Polypodium interjectum
110	True Ferns	Southern Polypody	Polypodium cambricum
111	True Ferns	Kangaroo Fern	Phymatosorus diversifolius
112	Rushes	Dwarf Rush	Juncus capitatus
113	Rushes	Sword-leaved Rush	Juncus ensifolius
114	Rushes	Blunt-flowered Rush	Juncus subnodulosus
115	Rushes	Alpine Rush	Juncus alpinoarticulatus
116	Rushes	Jointed Rush	Juncus articulatus
117	Rushes	Sharp-flowered Rush	Juncus acutiflorus
118	Rushes	Bulbous Rush	Juncus bulbosus
119	Rushes	Pigmy Rush	Juncus pygmaeus
120	Rushes	Two-flowered Rush	Juncus biglumis
121	Rushes	Three-flowered Rush	Juncus triglumis
122	Rushes	Chestnut Rush	Juncus castaneus
123	Rushes	Sea Rush	Juncus maritimus
124	Rushes	Sharp Rush	Juncus acutus
125	Rushes	Heath Rush	Juncus squarrosus
126	Rushes	Slender Rush	Juncus tenuis
127	Rushes	Lax-flowered Rush	Juncus anthelatus
128	Rushes	Dudley's Rush	Juncus dudleyi
129	Rushes	Round-fruited Rush	Juncus compressus
130	Rushes	Saltmarsh Rush	Juncus gerardii
131	Rushes	Three-leaved Rush	Juncus trifidus
132	Rushes	Leafy Rush	Juncus foliosus
133	Rushes	Toad Rush	Juncus bufonius
134	Rushes	Frog Rush	Juncus ranarius
135	Rushes	Baltic Rush	Juncus balticus
136	Rushes	Thread Rush	Juncus filiformis
137	Rushes	Austral Rush	Juncus australis
138	Rushes	Tussock Rush	Juncus aridicola
139	Rushes	Hard Rush	Juncus inflexus
140	Rushes	Soft-rush	Juncus effusus
141	Rushes	Compact Rush	Juncus conglomeratus
142	Rushes	Great Soft-rush	Juncus pallidus
143	Wood-rushes	Southern Wood-rush	Luzula forsteri
144	Wood-rushes	Hairy Wood-rush	Luzula pilosa
145	Wood-rushes	Great Wood-rush	Luzula sylvatica
146	Wood-rushes	White Wood-rush	Luzula luzuloides
147	Wood-rushes	Snow-white Wood-rush	Luzula nivea
148	Wood-rushes	Field Wood-rush	Luzula campestris
149	Wood-rushes	Heath Wood-rush	Luzula multiflora
150	Wood-rushes	Fen Wood-rush	Luzula pallescens
151	Wood-rushes	Curved Wood-rush	Luzula arcuata
152	Wood-rushes	Spiked Wood-rush	Luzula spicata
153	Cottongrasses	Common Cottongrass	Eriophorum angustifolium
154	Cottongrasses	Broad-leaved Cottongrass	Eriophorum latifolium
155	Cottongrasses	Slender Cottongrass	Eriophorum gracile
156	Cottongrasses	Hare's-tail Cottongrass	Eriophorum vaginatum
157	Deergrasses	Northern Deergrass	Trichophorum caespitosum
158	Deergrasses	Deergrass	Trichophorum germanicum
159	Club-rushes	Sea Club-rush	Bolboschoenus maritimus
160	Club-rushes	Inland Club-rush	Bolboschoenus laticarpus
161	Club-rushes	Wood Club-rush	Scirpus sylvaticus
162	Club-rushes	Common Club-rush	Schoenoplectus lacustris
163	Club-rushes	Grey Club-rush	Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani
164	Club-rushes	Triangular Club-rush	Schoenoplectus triqueter
165	Club-rushes	Sharp Club-rush	Schoenoplectus pungens
166	Spike-rushes	Common Spike-rush	Eleocharis palustris
167	Spike-rushes	Northern Spike-rush	Eleocharis mamillata
168	Spike-rushes	Slender Spike-rush	Eleocharis uniglumis
169	Spike-rushes	Many-stalked Spike-rush	Eleocharis multicaulis
170	Spike-rushes	Few-flowered Spike-rush	Eleocharis quinqueflora
171	Spike-rushes	Needle Spike-rush	Eleocharis acicularis
172	Spike-rushes	Dwarf Spike-rush	Eleocharis parvula
173	Perennial Sedges	Round-headed Club-rush	Scirpoides holoschoenus
174	Club-rushes	Bristle Club-rush	Isolepis setacea
175	Club-rushes	Slender Club-rush	Isolepis cernua
176	Club-rushes	Floating Club-rush	Eleogiton fluitans
177	Galingales	Galingale	Cyperus longus
178	Galingales	Pale Galingale	Cyperus eragrostis
179	Galingales	Brown Galingale	Cyperus fuscus
180	Galingales	Umbrella-sedge	Cyperus involucratus
181	Galingales	Giant Umbrella-sedge	Cyperus ustulatus
182	Flat-sedge	Flat-sedge	Blysmus compressus
183	Flat-sedge	Saltmarsh Flat-sedge	Blysmus rufus
184	Bog-rushes	Black Bog-rush	Schoenus nigricans
185	Bog-rushes	Brown Bog-rush	Schoenus ferrugineus
186	Saw Sedges	Great Fen-sedge	Cladium mariscus
187	Beak-sedges	White Beak-sedge	Rhynchospora alba
188	Beak-sedges	Brown Beak-sedge	Rhynchospora fusca
189	Sedges	Greater Tussock-sedge	Carex paniculata
190	Sedges	Fibrous Tussock-sedge	Carex appropinquata
191	Sedges	Lesser Tussock-sedge	Carex diandra
192	Sedges	True Fox-sedge	Carex vulpina
193	Sedges	False Fox-sedge	Carex otrubae
194	Sedges	American Fox-sedge	Carex vulpinoidea
195	Sedges	Spiked Sedge	Carex spicata
196	Sedges	Prickly Sedge	Carex muricata
197	Sedges	Grey Sedge	Carex divulsa
198	Sedges	Sand Sedge	Carex arenaria
199	Sedges	Brown Sedge	Carex disticha
200	Sedges	String Sedge	Carex chordorrhiza
201	Sedges	Divided Sedge	Carex divisa
202	Sedges	Curved Sedge	Carex maritima
203	Sedges	Remote Sedge	Carex remota
204	Sedges	Oval Sedge	Carex leporina
205	Sedges	Star Sedge	Carex echinata
206	Sedges	Dioecious Sedge	Carex dioica
207	Sedges	Elongated Sedge	Carex elongata
208	Sedges	Hare's-foot Sedge	Carex lachenalii
209	Sedges	White Sedge	Carex canescens
210	Sedges	Hairy Sedge	Carex hirta
211	Sedges	Slender Sedge	Carex lasiocarpa
212	Sedges	Lesser Pond-sedge	Carex acutiformis
213	Sedges	Greater Pond-sedge	Carex riparia
214	Sedges	Cyperus Sedge	Carex pseudocyperus
215	Sedges	Bottle Sedge	Carex rostrata
216	Sedges	Bladder-sedge	Carex vesicaria
217	Sedges	Mountain Bladder-sedge	Carex x grahamii
218	Sedges	Russet Sedge	Carex saxatilis
219	Sedges	Pendulous Sedge	Carex pendula
220	Sedges	Wood-sedge	Carex sylvatica
221	Sedges	Hair Sedge	Carex capillaris
222	Sedges	Thin-spiked Wood-sedge	Carex strigosa
223	Sedges	Glaucous Sedge	Carex flacca
224	Sedges	Carnation Sedge	Carex panicea
225	Sedges	Sheathed Sedge	Carex vaginata
226	Sedges	Starved Wood-sedge	Carex depauperata
227	Sedges	Smooth-stalked Sedge	Carex laevigata
228	Sedges	Green-ribbed Sedge	Carex binervis
229	Sedges	Distant Sedge	Carex distans
230	Sedges	Dotted Sedge	Carex punctata
231	Sedges	Long-bracted Sedge	Carex extensa
232	Sedges	Tawny Sedge	Carex hostiana
233	Sedges	Large Yellow-sedge	Carex flava
234	Sedges	Long-stalked Yellow-sedge	Carex lepidocarpa
235	Sedges	Common Yellow-sedge	Carex demissa
236	Sedges	Small-fruited Yellow-sedge	Carex viridula
237	Sedges	Pale Sedge	Carex pallescens
238	Sedges	Fingered Sedge	Carex digitata
239	Sedges	Bird's-foot Sedge	Carex ornithopoda
240	Sedges	Dwarf Sedge	Carex humilis
241	Sedges	Spring-sedge	Carex caryophyllea
242	Sedges	Downy-fruited Sedge	Carex filiformis
243	Sedges	Rare Spring-sedge	Carex ericetorum
244	Sedges	Soft-leaved Sedge	Carex montana
245	Sedges	Pill Sedge	Carex pilulifera
246	Sedges	Scorched Alpine-sedge	Carex atrofusca
247	Sedges	Bog-sedge	Carex limosa
248	Sedges	Mountain Bog-sedge	Carex rariflora
249	Sedges	Tall Bog-sedge	Carex magellanica
250	Sedges	Black Alpine-sedge	Carex atrata
251	Sedges	Club Sedge	Carex buxbaumii
252	Sedges	Close-headed Alpine-sedge	Carex norvegica
253	Sedges	Estuarine Sedge	Carex recta
254	Sedges	Saltmarsh Sedge	Carex salina
255	Sedges	Water Sedge	Carex aquatilis
256	Sedges	Slender Tufted-sedge	Carex acuta
257	Sedges	Common Sedge	Carex nigra
258	Sedges	Tufted-sedge	Carex elata
259	Sedges	Scarce Tufted-sedge	Carex cespitosa
260	Sedges	Stiff Sedge	Carex bigelowii
261	Sedges	Silver-spiked Sedge	Carex buchananii
262	Sedges	New Zealand Hair-sedge	Carex comans
263	Sedges	Bristle Sedge	Carex microglochin
264	Sedges	Few-flowered Sedge	Carex pauciflora
265	Sedges	Rock Sedge	Carex rupestris
266	Sedges	Flea Sedge	Carex pulicaris
267	Sedges	False Sedge	Carex simpliciuscula
268	Sedges	Hook Sedge	Uncinia uncinata