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Specy

Bracken

Ferns and Fern Allies

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.

Facts

Classification

Diet

Photosynthetic Autotroph 2

System (Realm)

Terrestrial 3

Relationship to People

Used in Traditional Medicine 1

Living or Extinct

Yes 1

Derived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status.

Comparison

NatureServe Rank

G5 Secure 4

CITES Appendix

Not Listed 5

Identification

Distinguishing Appearance

A fern with large, roughly triangular fronds produced singly from an underground rhizome, growing 0.3 to 1 meter tall. 1

Scientific Name

Pteridium aquilinum 1

Conservation Status

Least Concern 1

Connections

Child Taxon Of

Source Wikidata: Bracken

In Biome

Source NatureServe Explorer: Pteridium aquilinum

Source NatureServe Explorer: Pteridium aquilinum

In Ecosystem

Source Wikidata: Bracken

Additional Source Moorland (Wikipedia)Article text

In the Other Atlases

Found In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources

1. Pteridium aquilinum (Wikipedia)

Wikimedia Foundation

Introduction, first sentence
Pteridium aquilinum, commonly called bracken, brake, pasture brake, common bracken, and also known as eagle fern, is a species of fern occurring in temperate and subtropical regions in both hemispheres.
Description section
The large, roughly triangular fronds are produced singly, arising upwards from an underground rhizome, and grow to 0.3-1 metre (1-3+1⁄2 feet) tall; the main stem, or stipe, is up to 1 centimetre (1⁄2 inch) in diameter at the base.
Infobox: status
LC
article text (relationship to people), EntityId 279215
In Finnish traditional medicine, bracken has been used as a remedy in many ways: Elias Lönnrot advised to use a powder made of the plant's roots to drive away maggots.

View the Source

2. Pteridium aquilinum (Wikipedia)

a species of fernView the Source

3. GBIF Species API

GBIF Species APIView the Source

4. NatureServe Explorer: Pteridium aquilinum

NatureServe Explorer

Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
In Biome: Savanna, Species characteristics: Savanna
"terrestrialHabitatDescEn": "Savanna"
In Biome: Grassland, Species characteristics: Grassland/herbaceous
"terrestrialHabitatDescEn": "Grassland/herbaceous"

View the Source

5. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Polypodiales

UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 12392

Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 12392

"active":true,"cites_listing":"NC"

View the Source

Wikidata: Bracken

Wikidata Q213548, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
Child Taxon Of: Pteridophyta, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain

View the Source

UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Dennstaedtiaceae

UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 12453

Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 12453

"active":true,"cites_listing":"NC"

View the Source

Moorland (Wikipedia)

WikipediaIn Ecosystem: Moorland, Article text

Quote, In Ecosystem: Moorland, Article text

Scottish "muirs" are generally heather moors, but also have extensive cover of grass, cotton-grass, mosses, bracken and undergrowth such as crowberry, with the wetter moorland having sphagnum moss merging into bog-land.

View the Source

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