Ladder brake
ExplorePlants
Ladder brake
Pteris vittata
The Ladder Brake is a type of fern that grows in many places. It has long, green leaves that look like a ladder. This plant loves to grow in warm, sunny spots and can be found in gardens and forests.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Ladder brake has striking fronds with narrow, bright green leaflets arranged like the rungs of a ladder on dark, sturdy stems. Its distinctive ladder-like pattern helps it stand out from other ferns, creating an elegant, upright appearance.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPolypodiopsidaOrderPolypodialesFamilyPteridaceaeGenusPteris
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Its common name comes from how its leaves look like ladder rungs.
Ladder brake ferns were first described over 250 years ago!
Some people keep this fern as a houseplant because it's so tough.
This fern is so good at cleaning arsenic, scientists use it to help toxic sites!
Special abilities
Ability
Arsenic Absorber
Ladder brake can suck up harmful arsenic from the soil, helping to clean contaminated land and protect other plants.
Ability
Spore Sprinter
Ladder brake has tiny spores that can travel far on the wind, helping it quickly spread and grow in new places.
Ability
Wall Wanderer
Ladder brake can grow directly from cracks in walls and rocky cliffs, letting it thrive where few other plants can.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 15-100 cm
- Spread
- 20-50 cm
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
Ecological connections
eaten by
Garden Snail
Helix aspersa
Snails occasionally graze on its fronds.
eaten by
Leopard Slug
Limax maximus
Slugs might feed on its leaves in damp areas.
symbiotic with
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus
Glomus intraradices
Forms helpful root associations for nutrient absorption.
symbiotic with
Soil Bacterium
Bacillus cereus
Some bacteria aid in its arsenic absorption process.
Traits
Grass-Like
Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always wash your hands after touching plants, just to be safe!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Ladder brake?
15-100 cm
How wide does Ladder brake spread?
20-50 cm
Is Ladder brake edible?
No
Is Ladder brake toxic?
None
What is Ladder brake's lifecycle?
Perennial
Where is Ladder brake usually found?
Forests
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