Nick Garbutt / Purplish Jay (Cyanocorax cyanomelas), Araras Lodge, Mato Grosso, Northern Pantanal, Brazil, South America.

Richard Steel / 2020VISION / Female whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) perched on bracken frond, Denbighshire, Wales, UK, June.

Floris van Breugel / Hoar frost coats the edges of ferns in a clearing in Washington's Olympic National Park, USA. December.

Alex Hyde / Brittle Bladder / Common Fragile Fern (Cystopteris fragilis) growing in protective gryke in limestone pavement, Yorkshire Dales, UK. April.

Paul Harris / 2020VISION / Recently burnt heathland, showing new Bracken growth (Pteridium aquilinum), Caesar's Camp, Fleet, Hampshire, England, UK, May.

Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION / Scots pine forest extending up to natural tree line, with bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) in foreground, Rothiemurchus, Cairngorms NP, Scotland, UK, September 2011

Nick Garbutt / Unravelling Fern fronds (Unknown species). Near Nepenthes Field Camp, mid-altitude montane forest. Centre of Maliau Basin, Sabah's 'Lost World', Borneo.

Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION / Giant horsetail (Equisetum telmateia), Catcott Lows SWT reserve, Somerset Levels, England, UK, April. 2020VISION Book Plate. Did you know? Horsetails can grow to over two metres tall.

Steve Nicholls / Lava field with growth of Dotted polypody fern (Polypodium pellucidum), Kilauea, Hawaii, USA, August 2008

Stephen Dalton / Common horsetail (Equisetum arvense) shedding spores, UK

Niall Benvie / MYN / Unfurling single frond of Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) Scotland, UK

Alan Watson / Frond pattern of tree ferns (Cyathea arborea) in lowland tropical rainforest at 420 metres, Loma Quita Espuela Scientific Reserve, Dominican Republic.

Alan Watson / Frond pattern of tree ferns (Cyathea arborea) in lowland tropical rainforest at 420 metres, Loma Quita Espuela Scientific Reserve, Dominican Republic.

Sven Zacek / Fronds of Horsetail (Equisetum) in Spring, Estonia.

Wild Wonders of Europe / della Ferrera / Black maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus veneris) with water falling past, near Kravice falls, Trebizat River, Bosnia and Herzegovina, May 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Hermansen / Hart's tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) growing between rocks, Burren National Park, County Clare, Republic of Ireland, June 2009

Jack Dykinga / Pink flowers fallen from Marlberry tree (Ardisia sp) in the forest canopy above onto dense carpet of ferns, El triunfo Biosphere Reserve, Chaipas, Mexico

Wild Wonders of Europe / López / Ferns, Moricsala Strict Nature Reserve, Moricsala Island, Lake Usma, Latvia, June 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / López / Ferns, Moricsala Strict Nature Reserve, Moricsala Island, Lake Usma, Latvia, June 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Möllers / Hart's tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) San Marino, May 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Müller / Ferns in a valley, Pollino National Park, Basilicata, Italy, May 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Biancarelli / Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) amongst Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta / Endymion non-scriptum) Hallerbos Belgium, April 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / Great horsetail (Equisetum telmateia) close-up of stem, Poloniny National Park, Western Carpathians, Eastern Slovakia, Europe, June 2009 WWE BOOK. WWE INDOOR EXHIBITION

Wild Wonders of Europe / Tønning / Halerbach / Haupeschbach flowing between large moss covered rocks with Male ferns (Dryopteris filix mas) growing, Beaufort, Mullerthal, Luxembourg, May 2009

Wild Wonders of Europe / Benvie / Moonwort fern (Botrychium lunaria) Naturpark Kaunergrat, Tirol, Austria, July 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Ruiz / Fern frond, Dlouhy Dul, Ceske Svycarsko / Bohemian Switzerland National Park, Czech Republic, September 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Ruiz / Close-up of Fern frond with spiders webs on it, Dlouhy Dul, Ceske Svycarsko / Bohemian Switzerland National Park, Czech Republic, September 2008

Jack Dykinga / Water shamrocks / Water clover (Marsilea mucronata) floating on the surface of a canyon pool. Peck Canyon, Atascosa Mountains, Coronado National Forest, Arizona

Jose B. Ruiz / Abstract of Lady-fren frond {Athyrium filix femina}

Duncan Mcewan / Common polypody fern (Polypodium vulgare) Sori on underside of frond, Scotland

Duncan Mcewan / Common polypody fern (Polypodium vulgare) sori on underside of frond, Scotland

Niall Benvie / Sea spleenwort {Asplenium auritum} Scotland, UK

Ingo Arndt / Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) and view of east coast at sunset, Christmas Island National Park, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, Australian Territory

Ingo Arndt / Bracken leaves backlit {Pteridium aquilinum} Germany

Ingo Arndt / Fern frond uncurling, Taman Negara NP, Malaysia

Juan Carlos Munoz / Male fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) in Senda Fluvial del Nansa, Nansa Valley, Cantabria, Spain, Europe. May 2015.

Juan Carlos Munoz / Arborescent ferns (Cyatheaceae) in Kells Bay Gardens, Ring of Kerry, Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry, Republic of Ireland. September 2015.

Alex Hyde / Raft Spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) female resting on the surface of a moorland pool among stems of Horsetail (Equisetum sp.). Nordtirol, Austrian Alps, June.

Nick Upton / Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) frond unfurling, Cornwall, UK, April.

Nick Upton / Marsh horsetail (Equisteum palustre) with spore cones growing on marshy ground around a pond, Cornwall, UK, April.

Nick Upton / Clump of Hart's-tongue fern (Phyllitis / Asplenium scolopendrium) in woodland understorey after recent rain, Cornwall, UK, May.

Nick Upton / Clump of Hart's-tongue fern (Phyllitis / Asplenium scolopendrium) in woodland understorey after recent rain, Cornwall, UK, May.

Orsolya Haarberg / Ferns and other plants on rock over the Gudbrandsjuvet ravine with fast flowing water, Norddal, More og Romsdal, Norway. September 2012

Sven Zacek / Shuttlecock fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) in woodland at sunset, Northern Estonia, May 2012

Theo Bosboom / Ferns (Pteridophyta) at the beginning of autumn, near Teusojaure, Laponia, North Sweden, September

Theo Bosboom / Water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) close-up, De Bruuk, the Netherlands, May

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Harts tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium / Phyllitis scolopendrium) unfurling, controlled conditions, Broxwater, Cornwall, England, UK, May.

Juan Manuel Borrero / Illustration of Lady fern (Athyrium filix). Pencil and watercolor painting.

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Close up of a Ladyfern (Athyrium filix-femina) frond, Runcu Valley, Dambovita County, Leota Mountain Range, Romania, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Close up of ladyfern (Athyrium filix-femina) fronds, Runcu Valley, Dambovita County, Leota Mountain Range, Romania, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Close up of ladyfern (Athyrium filix-femina) frond, Runcu Valley, Dambovita County, Leota Mountain Range, Romania, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Close up of ladyfern (Athyrium filix-femina) fronds, Runcu Valley, Dambovita County, Leota Mountain Range, Romania, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Mixture of ground plants including Common wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Maidenhair spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) Wild straw...

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Ostrich feather / Shuttlecock ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) Ghimbavul Valley Gorge, Arges County, Leota Mountains, Carpathian Mountains, Romania, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Shuttlecock ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) and Black alder trres (Alnus glutinosa) in Ghimbavul Valley Gorge, Arges County, Leota Mountains range, Carpathian Mountains, Romania, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Shuttlecock ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) and Burdock (Arctium lappa) in Ghimbavul Valley Gorge, Arges County, Leota Mountains range, Carpathian Mountains, Romania, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Shuttlecock ferns (Matteuccia struthopteris) Burdock (Arctium lappa) and Black alder (Alnus glutinosa) in Ghimbavul Valley Gorge, Arges county, Leota Mountains, Carpathian Mountains, Romania, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Shuttlecock ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) and Burdock (Arctium lappa) in Ghimbavul Valley Gorge, Arges County, Leota Mountains range, Carpathian Mountains, Romania, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Lady-fern (Athryium filix-femina) in pristine Beech-Fir forests, Runcu Valley, Dambovita County, Leota Mountain Range, Romania, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Shuttlecock ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) and Black alder (Alnus glutinosa) in Ghimbavul Valley Gorge, Arges County, Leota Mountains range, Carpathian Mountains, Romania, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) growing near a fallen tree, Runcu Valley, Dambovita County, Leota Mountain Range, Romania, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) in a pristine beech (Fagus sylvatica) and fir (Abies) forest. Runcu Valley, Dambovita County, Leota Mountain Range, Romania, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) growing in a pristine beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Fir (Abies sp) forest, Runcu Valley, Dambovita County, Leota Mountain Range, Romania, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Bartocha / Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) growing in a beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest, Runcu Valley, Dambovita County, Leota Mountain Range, Romania, July

Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstrand / Bracken unfolding (Pteridium aquilinum) Campanarios de Azaiba Nature Reserve, Salamanca Region, Castilla y Leon, Spain, May

Phil Savoie / Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes). Stanner Rocks National Nature Reserve, Powys, Wales, UK, September.

Will Watson / Welsh pony (Equus caballus), with dead bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) in long forelock / mane, Hergest Ridge, Herefordshire, England, UK, October

Sandra Bartocha / Spider (Pachygnathus listeri ) on Water Horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) with spider possibly (Pachygnathus lesteri) Germany, May

Sandra Bartocha / Water Horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) close-up with water droplets, Germany, May

Sandra Bartocha / Common Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) frond unfurling, Germany, May

Alex Hyde / Wall Rue Spleenwort (Asplenium ruta-muraria) growing out of a fissure in a limestone cliff. Lathkill Dale NNR, Peak District National Park, UK. June.

Alex Hyde / Brittle Bladder / Common Fragile Fern {Cystopteris fragilis} Lathkill Dale NNR, Peak District National Park, UK. June.

Brent Stephenson / Kidney ferns (Trichomanes reniforme), Easter orchids (Earina autumnalis) in flower, and mosses covering the trunk of a tree. Dusky Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand

Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION / Male fern (Dryopteris filixmas) and bracken in autumn, Glen Affric, Scotland, UK, October

Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION / Bracken (Pteridium aquilinium) fronds in autumn, Glen Affric, Scotland, UK, October. Did you know? Bracken is evolutionarily very successful, with a fossil record going back 55 million years.

Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION / Male fern (Dryopteris filixmas) and bracken in autumn, Glen Affric, Scotland, UK, October

Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION / Bracken (Pteridium aquilinium) fronds in autumn, Glen Affric, Scotland, UK, October

Alex Hyde / Maiden-hair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanus) growing on limestone cliff. Lathkill Dale, Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK, June.

Colin Varndell / Great horsetail (Equisetum telmateia) spore cones, Dorset, UK, April

Paul Harris / 2020VISION / Recently burnt heathland, showing new Bracken growth (Pteridium aquilinum), Caesar's Camp, Fleet, Hampshire, England, UK, May.

Michel Poinsignon / Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) on river between Leon pond and Atlantic Ocean, Courant D'Huchet, Landes, France, August.

Michel Poinsignon / Maritime pine trees (Pinus pinaster) forest with bracken, Landes, France, August.

David Tipling / 2020VISION / New bracken shoot (Pteridium aquilinum) Holme Fen, Cambridgeshire, UK, May

Erlend Haarberg / Moonwort fern (Botrychium lunaria) showing the sporophore and the trophophore, covered in water droplets, Norway, July

Orsolya Haarberg / Ostrich ferns growing in Birch (Betula sp) forest, Reisa National Park, Nordreisa, Troms, Norway, August 2006

Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION / View over New Forest lowland heathland at Fritham Cross at dawn, with flowering Bell heather / Ling (Erica cinerea) and Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), New Forest National Park, Hampshire, England, UK....

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Bracken (Pteridium) growing through a carpet of mixed Heather (Erica) species in flower, Arne RSPB reserve, Dorset, England, UK, July

MYN / Niall Benvie / Male fern (Dryopteris filix mas) unfurling, Scotland, UK, May meetyourneighbours.net project

Graham Eaton / Pont y Pandy Slate Mill in the mist, with Narrow buckler fern (Dryopteris carthusiana) in foreground, Porthmadog, Gwynedd, Wales, UK, August

Peter Cairns / 2020VISION / Bracken fronds (Pteridium aquilinum) in autumn, Glen Affric, Scotland, UK, October 2011

Brent Stephenson / Unfurling Silver Fern (Cyathea dealbata) frond. Tiritiri Matangi Island, Auckland, New Zealand, September.

Inaki Relanzon / Soft tree-ferns (Balantium antarcticum) Great Otway National Park, Victoria State, Australia, September 2011.

Alex Hyde / Common horsetail (Equisetum arvense) shedding spores, Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK. April.

Konrad Wothe / Electric Fern (Selaginella longipinna) in rainforest, archaic species, Daintree National Park, North Queensland, Australia, October

Sven Zacek / Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) growing from sand in woodland. Estonia, Europe, May.

Sven Zacek / Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) new growth by woodland river bank. Estonia, Europe, May.

Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION / Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) and flowering heather (Calluna vulgaris) in woodland, Rothiemurchus, Cairngorms NP, Scotland, UK, September 2011