This user-friendly field-guide describes and illustrates the ferns, clubmosses, quillworts and horsetails native to Britain and Ireland, giving comprehensive entries for over 100 species and hybrids. Each entry gives a brief 'pen picture' which outlines the key features of each species, supported by clear and informative frond silhouette illustrations. Valuable additional information on distribution, ecology and biology is provided in the form of 'Field Notes'. Many improved silhouette illustrations have been prepared for this updated edition and additional material on difficult groups, such as the spleenworts and buckler ferns, has been included. The accessible style and format of the first edition has been retained, enabling many European as well as British ferns to be identified accurately by amateurs and professionals alike.