The Scaly Male-fern Dryopteris affinis group is one of the most interesting and difficult objects of taxonomic studies in the European pteridophyte flora (Pigott 1997; Ekrt et al. 2009). This taxon reproduces without the necessity of fertilization (Pigott 1997). The plants are apomictic that means they can generate vegetative clones, and each local population can be regarded as a new species (Whild, Lockton 1999). Moreover, they can easily form pure strains
WoztwoDA B 2009. Morphological diversity of ferns in the Dryopteris Poland In: E. Szezesniak. E. Gola (eds), Genus Dryopteris Adans in Poland Polish Botanical Plant Biology. University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, p. 45-59
and partially fertile hybrids with D. filir-mas (L.) Schott and ferns from D carthusiana group (Piekos Mirkowa 1981, Pigott 1997).
In addition, the variable environmental conditions can result in significant and often confusing changes of fern morphology (Piggot 1997). There have been published numerous ap- proaches to the D. affinis complex treatment over the years, with changing classifications of species, subspecies, varieties and "morphotypes" (Pigott 1997; Whild, Lockton 1999). The newest description of the D. nis group is pre sented by Fraser-Jenkins (2007) In Central Europe, three taxa differing in the ploidy level and history are currently recognized (Fraser-Jenkins 2007: Ekrt et al. 2009). Dip oid 2n 82 D. affinis Fraser-Jenk. s s. is restricted to the western and southern parts of Central Europe. Two triploid 2n 123 species. Di borreri (Newm.) Oberh & Tavel and D. cambrensis (Fraser-Jenk.) Beitel & W.R Buck, are known Central Europe. Furthermore, in continental Europe three other triploid taxa are noted D. pseudo-disjuncta (Tavel ex Fraser- Jenk.) Fraser-Jenk. in Western Europe D. schorapenensis Askerov and D. pontica Fraser-Jenk. in the surroundings of Caucasus Mts (Fraser Jenkins 2007) The variety of Dryopteris affinis group in Poland is not recognized yet; only a few information about occurrence of D. cambrensis and D. borreri are known (Fraser-Jenkins 2007; Ekrt et al. 2009). The aim of presented re search was determine the taxonomical position of specimens occurring on scattered and isolated stands in the Laska Upland as well as the range of their morphological diversity.