ExplorePlants

common bracken

Pteridium aquilinum

Common bracken is a tall, leafy plant that grows in many places like forests and fields. Its big, green fronds look like giant hands reaching for the sky!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The common bracken has large, distinctive triangular fronds that are typically bright green, often forming dense, carpet-like patches. These fronds emerge from the ground, unfurling like scrolls, and can turn yellow to brown in autumn.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPolypodiopsidaOrderPolypodialesFamilyDennstaedtiaceaeGenusPteridium
common bracken
deciduous trait badgebroadleaf_tree trait badgemedicinal trait badgefiber trait badge
common bracken

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Common bracken is one of the oldest plant species, with relatives dating back to dinosaur times!

Historically, people used bracken ash to make soap and even as an ingredient for glass!

Its tiny spores can drift high on the wind, traveling for miles to sprout in new places!

You can find this super adaptable fern on every continent except Antarctica. It's a world traveler!

Special abilities

Ability

Underground Invader

Common bracken has rapidly spreading underground stems (rhizomes) that help it quickly colonize large areas.

Ability

Chemical Warfare

Common bracken can release chemicals into the soil that stop other plants from growing nearby, helping it dominate its space.

Ability

Fire Survivor

Common bracken has deep rhizomes that can survive fires, allowing it to quickly regrow even after intense burns.

Measurements & details

Height
50-200 cm
Spread
50-150 cm
Edible
No
Toxicity
High
Lifecycle
Perennial

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Don't eat any part of the bracken plant, as it can be harmful.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is common bracken?

50-200 cm

How wide does common bracken spread?

50-150 cm

Is common bracken edible?

No

Is common bracken toxic?

High

What is common bracken's lifecycle?

Perennial

Where is common bracken usually found?

Forests

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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