Bracken

Bracken is a large, fast-spreading fern species found on every continent except Antarctica, among the most widespread of all fern species in the world, recognized by its coarse, triangular fronds that can grow to well over a metre tall and often form dense stands that crowd out other low-growing vegetation in woodlands, heaths and disturbed ground. It spreads primarily through an extensive underground network of rhizomes rather than relying solely on its wind-dispersed spores, allowing it to persist and regenerate quickly even after fire or cutting, which has made it both an ecologically significant and, in some agricultural and grazing landscapes, a difficult plant to control. Bracken contains compounds that are toxic to livestock and are considered potentially carcinogenic, so grazing animals generally avoid it unless little other forage is available. Despite this, bracken-dominated habitats support their own distinct community of insects and other wildlife, and the plant has featured historically in various cultures as a source of thatching, bedding and, after careful preparation, an occasional starchy food.