Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Dennstaedtiaceae ⟩ Pteridium aquilinum / bracken

Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn

bracken (Dennstaedtiaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadNegligible tendencyNW
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Bracken is a very common fern with a distinctive scent. It is toxic when sporulating.

Beckley (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2017-05-04

 bracken / Pteridium aquilinum: Bracken is a very common fern with a distinctive scent. It is toxic when sporulating.

The common kind of bracken has white hairs as well as red hairs on young, unfurling fronds. A rarer bracken, found in Scotland, has hardly any white hairs; its taxonomic status is uncertain.

Beckley (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2017-05-04

 bracken / Pteridium aquilinum: The common kind of bracken has white hairs as well as red hairs on young, unfurling fronds. A rarer bracken, found in Scotland, has hardly any white hairs; its taxonomic status is uncertain.

The sporangia of Pteridium aquilinum run under the rolled-down edges of the leaves.

Kennington (VC22: Berkshire); 2018-08-18

 bracken / Pteridium aquilinum: The sporangia of _Pteridium aquilinum_ run under the rolled-down edges of the leaves.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne