Pteridium aquilinum

Dennstaedtiaceae

Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn

Link to Australian Plant Name Index for publication details and synonyms: https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/57371

Hairy Bracken

Stipe and rachis dull yellow-brown, bearing abundant non-glandular hairs; stipe 25–60 cm long, 3–6 mm diam., woody. Lamina broadly ovate or triangular to broader than long, 40–c. 100 cm long, 30–90 cm wide, 3-pinnate at base, sparsely hairy along midribs of upper surface; lower surface with dense colourless spreading non-glandular hairs throughout. Longest primary pinnae 18–60 cm long, 8–45 cm wide. Secondary pinnae arising at wide angles; longest 4–25 cm long, 1–4 cm wide; midribs of primary and secondary pinnae lacking free lobes or wings. Tertiary pinnae all ±equal in length on each secondary pinna; longest 6–25 mm long, 3–5 mm wide; ultimate pinnules linear, slightly falcate, acute, entire, adnate. Indusium less than 0.2 mm wide, membranous, fimbriate, hairy.

Naturalised in NT, QLD, SA. Widespread, particularly in the northern hemisphere.

Terrestrial.

A widespread weed.