Other common names:
Bracken Fern, Eastern Bracken Other scientific names: Pteridium latiusculum, Pteris aquilina French names:
Fougère d'aigle commune Family: Bracken Family (Dennstaedtiaceae) Similar species: • Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris) - much smaller, grows in deep woods. • Robert's Fern (Gymnocarpium robertianum) - much smaller, uncommon. • Rattlesnake Fern (Botrypus virginianus) - much smaller, stouter for its size; has a central fertile frond sticking straight up. Leaves: Thrice divided Height:
Up to 2 m (1-5 ft) Stem:
Very tough - you can even cut yourself badly on it if you pull on it suddenly (this has happened to me). Habitat: Fields and Open Areas; Open areas, fields & meadows. Grows in Sun/Shade:
Sun Uses:
Not adviseable to eat this fern.
Edible:
Edible but not adviseable, as it contains carcinogens.
Native/Non-native:
Native Status:
Very common.
Notes:
Can become invasive in certain areas/conditions.
For more information visit: Ontario Ferns Photographs:
147 photographs available, of which 17 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Range Map is at the bottom of the page
Typical leaves...
Typical growth form - the leaves form a flat "umbrella".
Bracken in an open pine woods.
Here Bracken has taken over a clearing.
Bracken can grow quite large sometimes, as shown here!
Sometimes Bracken grows in the upright form. Not sure why.
Sometimes the leaflets grow slightly irregularly.
Upper surface of a frond.
Underside of a frond. Sometimes the margins of the leaflets will curl under very slightly.
Underside, showing what appears to be the sori, but is in fact insect damage!
Fiddlehead in the spring (mid-May).
Bracken is not a recommended species of fern to eat. It contains high levels of carcinogens.
PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.
(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website
and is displayed here in accordance with their
Policies)
If you enjoyed this website you might also enjoy these other websites in the Wildwood Canada group
