Ladder brake fern

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Ladder Brake
• Chinese Brake
• Chinese Ladder Brake

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aspidium humile
• Polypodium trapezoides
• Pteris acuminatissima
• Pteris alpinii
• Pteris amplectens
• Pteris amplexicaulis
• Pteris costata
• Pteris ensifolia
• Pteris guichenotiana
• Pteris guichenotii
• Pteris inaequilateralis
• Pteris longifolia var. brevipinna
• Pteris microdonta
• Pteris obliqua
• Pteris ophioderma
• Pteris semihirta
• Pteris vittata f. cristata
• Pteris vittata subsp. bengalensis
• Pteris vulcanica
• Pteris longifolia var. vittata
• Pycnodoria vittata
• Pteris vittata subsp. vittata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Polypodiinae. It is further classified under the order Polypodiales and the family Pteridaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Pteris, with its specific species name being vittata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found in Belgium, Germany, and Hungary. Its range also extends to Southwestern Europe, specifically within the Baleares. Together, these locations illustrate the diverse habitats where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pteris vittata is characterized by a broad elevational distribution, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 1900 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant ecological versatility, occupying diverse environments including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), terra firme forests (Floresta de Terra Firme), and ombrophilous forests, such as rain forests (Floresta Ombrófila/Floresta Pluvial).

Elevational range max:

1900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Pteris vittata is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a cryptophyte, it employs specialized survival strategies to endure unfavorable conditions, protecting its vital organs underground or at the soil surface. This resilience is further supported by its classification as a geophyte, utilizing underground structures to facilitate long-term survival and regrowth.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pteris vittata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. This plant is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, existing across aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial environments, and it lacks epiphytic qualities, remaining strictly terrestrial. As a self-supporting species, it does not exhibit climbing behaviors such as lianas or vines. In terms of stature, it is a relatively small plant, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1.51 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.51 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pteris vittata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The plant lacks succulence, maintaining a non-succulent structural composition that influences its water management and cellular osmotic potential. Morphologically, its foliage consists of elliptic leaf forms that vary significantly in size; individual leaves typically exhibit a length ranging from a minimum of 30 cm to a maximum of 80 cm. The width of these leaves is similarly variable, spanning from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, providing a substantial surface area for light interception and gas exchange.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

80 cm

Leaf length min:

30 cm

Leaf width max:

15 cm

Leaf width min:

10 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Pteris vittata is characterized by a lifecycle that involves the production of spores rather than true flowers, although its reproductive phenology follows a distinct seasonal pattern. The reproductive cycle typically begins during the flowering or sporulation period, with the process starting as early as March and continuing through to August, though the specific timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. The dispersal of these reproductive units is classified as anemochorous, meaning the plant relies on wind currents to transport its spores over distances to colonize new substrates.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Aug

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pteris vittata has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ARSENIC.

ARSENIC

1. The Science of the total environment

Conditions

Pteris vittata has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer.

Cancer

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie