Species · GBIF taxon 5275012
common bracken
Pteridium aquilinumAlso known as Eagle Fern, Brake, Pasture Brake, Bracken Fern
Common bracken dominates open woodlands and pastures with its massive, triangular fronds that unfurl from deep, fire-resistant rhizomes. This ancient fern releases millions of microscopic spores that drift on the wind, allowing it to colonize disturbed soils across nearly every continent. Its dense canopy shades out competing flora, while its chemical defenses deter most herbivores.
CosmopolitanSpore-bearingAggressive-grower
1 / 7- diet
- Sunlight, Water, and Soil Nutrients
- family
- Dennstaedtiaceae
- threats
- None (highly resilient and often considered an invasive weed)
- life Span
- Perennial (individual fronds die annually, rhizomes can live for decades)
LC
All parts contain carcinogenic toxins; do not ingest any part, including young fiddleheads.
Contains ptaquiloside, a potent carcinogen, and thiaminase, which causes severe vitamin deficiency in livestock.
Do not consume any part of the plant, and wash hands after handling mature fronds to avoid ingesting spores.- Identify by structure: Look for the distinctive three-branched, triangular fronds that rise individually from the ground rather than in circular clumps.
- Observe seasonal changes: Watch the bright green fronds turn a rich golden-brown in autumn, providing winter cover for small wildlife.
- Avoid harvesting: Do not collect the fiddleheads for food due to high concentrations of natural carcinogens.