Tui De Roy / Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross (Thalassarche chlororhynchos). nesting amid Blechnum palmiforme tree ferns. Gough Island, Gough and Inaccessible Islands UNESCO World Heritage Site, South Atlantic.

Ross Hoddinott / Hard fern (Blechnum spicant) frond uncurling, Cornwall, UK. April.

Kirkendall-Spring / Ama'u fern (Sadleria cyatheoides) growing on the Pu'u O'o Lava Bed, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii. December 2016.

Kirkendall-Spring / Ama'u fern (Sadleria cyatheoides) is the first plant to return to a lava field, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii. December 2016.

Chris Mattison / Alpine water fern (Blechnum penna-marina), Patagonia, Chile, South America

Paul Harcourt Davies / Hard fern ( Blechnum spicant) showing the sori (cluster of spore producing structures. Beneath the fronds. Sugano, Orvieto, Umbria, Italy, March.

Chris Mattison / Hard fern (Blechnum spicant) infertile fronds, in Beech wood, autumn. Wye Valley, Monmouthshire,UK, November.

Chris Mattison / Hard fern (Blechnum spicant) infertile fronds, in Beech wood, autumn. Wye Valley, Monmouthshire,UK, November.

Brent Stephenson / Tall fern (Blechnum magellanicum) growing near the shoreline, and catching the light, Gypsy Cove, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic, January.

Brent Stephenson / Crown fern (Blechnum discolor) with new unfurling fronds developing, Ulva Island, Stewart Island, New Zealand, November.

Mark MacEwen / Black and white image of fern (Blechnum durum) Snares Island, New Zealand.

John Waters / Hard fern (Blechnum sp) growing on mossy scree near Schynige Platte,Bernese Oberland alpine region, Switzerland, October.

Gerry Ellis / Ama'u Fern (Sadleria sp) in lava field, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Rob Brown / New Zealand Red Pine (Dacrydium cupressinum) and Crown Ferns (Blechum discolor), Ruggedy Range, Rakiura National Park, New Zealand

Matthew Maran / Hard / Deer fern (Blechnum spicant) growing in forest, Ucluth Peninsular, Vancouver Island, Canada

Michael & Patricia Fogden / Tree Fern (Dicksonia sp) and ground cover of Crown Ferns (Blechnum discolor) in temperate rainforest, Stewart Island, New Zealand

Michael & Patricia Fogden / Tree Fern (Dicksonia sp) and ground cover of Crown Ferns (Blechnum discolor) in temperate rainforest, Stewart Island, New Zealand

Ross Hoddinott / Hard fern {Blechnum spicant} frond uncurling, Cornwall, UK. April

Ross Hoddinott / Hard fern {Blechnum spicant} frond uncurling, Cornwall, UK. April

Tim Laman / Fern (Blechnum orientale) growing in rainforest, Taveuni Island, Fiji - one frond with pink tips

Tim Laman / Fern (Blechnum orientale) growing in rainforest, Taveuni Island, Fiji. Frond with pink tips.

Tui De Roy / Batwing Fern (Histiopteris incisa), Gough Tree Fern (Blechnum palmiforme), and Island Cape Myrtle (Phylica arborea) on coastal plateau, Gough Island, South Atlantic

Tui De Roy / Gough Tree Fern (Blechnum palmiforme) clusters growing in waterlogged coastal plateau, Gough Island, South Atlantic

Nick Groves / Crown Fern (Blechnum discolor) in Rimu Forest, between Mason and Doughboy Bays, Stewart Island, New Zealand

Nick Groves / Crown Fern (Blechnum discolor) and stream, Waitutu Forest, South Island, New Zealand

Thomas Marent / Fern (Blechnum sp) sprouting, La Planada Nature Reserve, Colombia

Niall Benvie / Hard fern frond {Blechnum spicant} Scotland, UK

MYN / Niall Benvie / Hard fern frond {Blechnum spicant} Scotland, UK, August. meetyourneighbours.net project

Niall Benvie / Study of different Fern speices fronds, Ostrich plume {Matteuccia struthiopteris}, Hard fern {Blechnum spicant} and Broad buckler fern {Dryopteris dilatata} on pink background

Jack Dykinga / Soft Tree Ferns (Cyathea smithii) with Crown Ferns (Blechnum discolor) below, Whakapohai Wildlife Refuge, South Island, New Zealand

Jack Dykinga / Silver Beech (Nothofagus menziesii) with an understorey of Crown Ferns (Blechnum discolor), Kepler Track, Fiordland National park, South Island, New Zealand

Jack Dykinga / Silver Beech (Nothofagus menziesii) with an understorey of Crown Ferns (Blechnum discolor), Kepler Track, Fiordland National park, South Island, New Zealand

Simon Colmer / Hard fern (Blechnum spicant) frond uncurling, Perthshire, Scotland, UK.

Michael & Patricia Fogden / Hardwater Fern (Blechnum wattsii) in temperate rainforest, Tahune Forest Reserve, Tasmania, Australia

Michael & Patricia Fogden / Hardwater Fern (Blechnum wattsii) in temperate rainforest, Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia

Gerry Ellis / Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant) fiddleheads, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Colin Monteath/ Hedgehog House / Crown Fern (Blechnum discolor) group, Stewart Island, New Zealand

Colin Monteath/ Hedgehog House / Crown Fern (Blechnum discolor) group on floor of podocarp forest, Rakeahua, Stewart Island, New Zealand

Colin Monteath / Kiokio (Blechnum novae-zelandiae) covered in frost, Okarito, Westland National Park, west coast, New Zealand

Gerry Ellis / Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant) fiddleheads, Pacific coast, North America

David Fleetham / Endemic Ama'u fern (Sadleria cyatheoides) showing a red frond, this will turn green as it matures, Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawaii.

Sergio Hanquet / Woman in ferns or Chain fern (Woodwardia radicans) in the laurel forest of the Anaga Massif Biosphere Reserve. Tenerife, Canary Islands. Model released.

Ross Hoddinott / Small pearl-bordered fritillary (Boloria selene) butterfly roosting on hard fern (Blechnum spicant), Marsland Mouth, Cornwall, UK. June .

Ross Hoddinott / Small pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly (Boloria selene) roosting on Hard fern (Blechnum spicant) fiddlehead. Marsland Valley Wildlife Trusts Reserve, Cornwall, England, UK. June.

Ross Hoddinott / Hard fern (Blechnum spicant), two fiddleheads unfurling. Cornwall, England, UK. May.

Ross Hoddinott / Two hard fern (Blechnum spicant) fronds uncurling, Coombe Valley, Cornwall, UK. May .

Doug Gimesy / Hard tree ferns (Blechnum sp.) sprouting in burnt forest after 2019/20 bushfires devastated the area. Damaged Eucalyptus trees and soft tree ferns in the background. Martins Creek Scenic Reserve, Nurr...

Doug Gimesy / Hard tree ferns (Blechnum sp.) sprouting in burnt forest after 2019/20 bushfires devastated the area. Damaged Eucalyptus trees and soft tree ferns in the background. Martins Creek Scenic Reserve, Nurr...

Doug Gimesy / Hard tree ferns (Blechnum sp.) sprouting in burnt forest after 2019/20 bushfires devastated the area. Damaged Eucalyptus trees and soft tree ferns in the background. Martins Creek Scenic Reserve, Nurr...

Thomas Marent / Spindle Ermine (Yponomeuta cagnagella) moth, Switzerland