common bracken

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bracken fern
• Bracken
• Bracken / Fern
• Brake
• northern bracken fern

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Eupteris aquilina
• Filix aquilina
• Cincinalis aquilina
• Paesia aquilina
• Asplenium aquilinum
• Filix-foemina aquilina
• Pteris foemina var. minor
• Pteris aquilina
• Pteris brevipes
• Pteris heredia
• Pteris aquilina f. transcaucasica
• Onychium capense
• Cincinalis lanuginosa
• Pteridium ceheginense
• Pteridium pinetorum subsp. sajanense
• Pteridium pinetorum subsp. sibiricum
• Ornithopteris aquilina
• Pteridium aquilinum subsp. atlanticum
• Pteridium aquilinum subsp. fulvum
• Pteridium aquilinum subsp. brevipes
• Allosorus aquilinus
• Pteridium aquilinum subsp. heredia
• Pteridium heredia
• Pteridium aquilinum var. osmundaceum
• Pteridium pinetorum subsp. osmundaceum
• Pteridium tauricum
• Pteridium aquilinum subsp. osmundaceum
• Pteris aquilina var. glabra
• Dryopteris austriaca
• Polypodium austriacum
• Pteridium aquilinum var. glabrum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Polypodiinae, it falls under the order Polypodiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Dennstaedtiaceae and is identified by the genus Pteridium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is distributed across several key regions within Northern Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing in the landscapes of Denmark. Its presence also extends to the territories of Finland and Norway. Furthermore, the species is documented within the borders of Great Britain. Finally, its geographical range includes the island of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pteridium aquilinum is characterized by its broad adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, spanning a significant altitudinal gradient from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to an elevation of 1500 m AMSL. This species is commonly found inhabiting forest ecosystems, where it can integrate into various woodland structures, as well as sandy substrates, demonstrating a preference for well-drained or specific soil compositions within those environments.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, sand

Life history

The life history of Pteridium aquilinum is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over many years through robust underground structures. It functions as a cryptophyte, specifically utilizing a geophyte life form where the vital organs are protected beneath the soil surface. This growth strategy enables the plant to exhibit deciduous behavior, shedding its fronds during unfavorable seasons and regenerating from its subterranean rhizomes when conditions become more favorable.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pteridium aquilinum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This plant is a self-supporting species, lacking any climbing or vining tendencies, and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, maintaining a primarily terrestrial habit. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant variation in plant height, with individuals ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 3 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 1.39 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

1.39166666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pteridium aquilinum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation strategies. Its leaf morphology is defined by a pinnatifid form featuring toothed margins, though it lacks structural defenses such as leaf thorns or leaf spines. The plant is non-carnivorous and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external nutrient availability. Furthermore, it exhibits a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean value of 184.46 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its strategy for light interception and resource management.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

pinnatifid

Leaf margin :

toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

184.46 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pteridium aquilinum is characterized by an abiotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by the wind. The reproductive cycle follows a seasonal timeline, with the flowering period typically starting in July and concluding in September. Unlike flowering plants that produce seeds within distinct fruits like berries or capsules, this species possesses a fruit type classified as "other," consistent with the spore-producing nature of ferns. Its dispersal strategy is considered unspecialized, lacking highly specific mechanisms such as anemochory or zoochory, which allows for a broad distribution. Furthermore, asexual reproduction is noted as absent in the context of this specific reproductive profile.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit type :

other

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pteridium aquilinum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Chemicals

Pteridium aquilinum has 58 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Pterosin B, Aquilide A, Flavonoids, PTAQUILOSIDE, PTEROSINS.

Pterosin B

1. Nature communications
2. Biochemical and biophysical research communications
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Aquilide A

1. Dr. Duke
2. Princess Takamatsu symposia

Flavonoids

1. Recent patents on biotechnology
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

PTAQUILOSIDE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

PTEROSINS

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Prunasin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

20-HYDROXYECDYSONE

1. Dr. Duke

5-O-Caffeoylshikimic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Pteridium aquilinum has 366 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, ATPase-Inhibitor.

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Acnegenic

1. Dr. Duke

Additive

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Pteridium aquilinum has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include osteoarthritis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, carcinogenesis, lymphoproliferative disorders.

Osteoarthritis

1. Nature communications
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Alzheimer's disease

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Cancer

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Carcinogenesis

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Lymphoproliferative disorders

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Oral candidiasis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Pteridium aquilinum has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, green vegetables.

Extracts

1. Food & function

Green vegetables

1. International journal of molecular sciences