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Pteridium aquilinum (L.)Kuhn var. pseudocaudatum (Clute)Clute ex A.Heller
Tailed Bracken
Western Brackenfern
Synonym(s): Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn
Florida native
A common fern of moist to dry open hammocks and thickets, often in dry sandy areas and even in full sun thoughout nearly all of Florida. The range extends throughout the southeastern United States, west into Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, north into the Ohio Valley states and northeast into Vermont and Massachusetts.
Less than a meter (39 in.) tall with overall triangular bi-pinnate to tri-pinnate blades that are deeply divided. Terminal pinnules are more than 4 times as long as wide. Lower pinnules are themselves deeply pinnately lobed. Sori are continuous along the margins of the pinnules.
Pteridium aquilinum is a member of the Dennstaedtiaceae - Bracken Fern family.
Other species of the Pteridium genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Pteridium aquilinum var. caudatum - LACY BRACKEN
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Feb 23, 2024
