Pteridium esculentum

Common name(s): Bracken fern, Austral Bracken

Family: Dennstaedtiaceae Synonym(s): Pteris esculenta

Fern

Taken by Unknown Photographer

Frond

Taken by Unknown Photographer

Pinna

Taken by Unknown Photographer

Frond

Taken by Unknown Photographer

Rachis / Stem

Taken by Unknown Photographer

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Fern / Fern Ally Properties

Origin(s)

Australia

NSW: NS, NT, NC, SP, CS, CT, CC, SS, ST, SC
NT: DG
QLD: CO, KN, KS, LE, PC, WB, DD, MO
SA: EP, NL, SL, KI, SE
TAS: NW, ML, NE, BL, WC, CH, EC, SW, MF, MW, KI, FU
VIC: WA, GR, MI, VP, OP, OR, EH, GP, GH, PR, EG
WA: IR, DA, EY

New Caledonia

New Cal.: Indigenous

New Zealand

Sth. Is.: NE, BU, MA, WE, CA, FI, OT, SO, SI, SnI, AnI
Nth. Is.: TKI, NO, AU, WA, GI, TA, CE, HA, MA, WAI

Norfolk Island

Norfolk Is: Indigenous

Papua New Guinea

PNG: Indigenous

Vanuatu

Vanuatu: Indigenous

Fiji

Fiji: Indigenous

Malaysia

Malaysia: Indigenous

Plant Type

Terrestrial Fern

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Temperate Cool, Temperate Warm, Tropical-Sub, Tropical

Temperate Cool,

Temperate Warm,

Tropical-Sub,

Tropical

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Full, Sun - Morning, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light, Shade - Medium

Sun - Full,

Sun - Morning,

Shade - Dappled,

Shade - Light,

Shade - Medium

Habitat Range(s)

Heath, Open Woodlands, Rainforest - Temperate, Rainforest - Tropical, Sclerophyll Forest - Wet

Heath,

Open Woodlands,

Rainforest - Temperate,

Rainforest - Tropical,

Sclerophyll Forest - Wet

Habitat Zone(s)

Gullies, Heavy soils, Hill Sides, Moist areas, Moist Valley Slopes, Open areas, Slopes, Understory, Well drained

Gullies,

Heavy soils,

Hill Sides,

Moist areas,

Moist Valley Slopes,

Open areas,

Slopes,

Understory,

Well drained

Mature Height

1-2m, 2-3m

1-2m,

2-3m

Mature Width

4-5m

Plant Shape

Broad Open Bun

Growth Rate

Very Fast

Life Span

30-50yrs

Frond Properties

Frond Colour(s) (upper)

Green Dark

Frond Colour(s) (lower)

Green Light

Frond Texture (upper)

Glabrous

Dull , Leathery

Dull,

Leathery

Frond Texture (lower)

Strigose

Frond Aroma

None

Frond Length

300-400mm

Frond Shape(s)

Tripinnate

Frond Position

Erect

Frond Arrangement

Basal or Radial

Pinna Shape(s)

Oblong

Pinnule Apice(s) (Leaflet)

Obtuse

Pinnule Base(s) (Leaflet)

Hastate

Pinnule Margin(s) (Leaflet)

Entire

Pinnule Cross Section(s) (Leaflet)

Flat

Rachis / Stem / Scale Properties

Rachis / Stem / Stipe Upper Colour(s)

Brown

Rachis / Stem / Stipe Upper Texture(s)

Smooth

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Indusia Colour(s)

Brown-Light

Indusia Shape (Fruit)

Elongate on Margin

Indusia Size (Fruit)

< 1mm

Spore Properties

Spore Colour(s)

Brown Light, Yellow Dark

Brown Light,

Yellow Dark

Spore Texture(s)

Granulose

Spore Number

Many

Root Properties

Root Type(s)

Rhizome Long-creeping

Root/Rhizome Texture(s)

Hairy

Root Colour(s)

Red-brown

Soil Properties

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Stony, Peaty, Organic Matter, Hummus Rich

Clay,

Clay-loam,

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Sand,

Stony,

Peaty,

Organic Matter,

Hummus Rich

Soil pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline, Alkaline

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral,

Slightly Alkaline,

Alkaline

Soil Condition(s)

Moist

Dry

Moist,

Dry

Fertile , Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Poor,

Shallow,

Deep,

Well Drained

Soil Salinities

None

Other Properties / Uses

Bird Attraction(s)

Habitat

Butterfly Attraction

None

Frog Habitat

None

Coastal

1st Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

Spore, Rhizome

Spore,

Rhizome

Fire Retarding

None

Drought Tolerance

Moderate

Frost Tolerance

Poor

Snow Tolerance

Light

Smog Tolerant

Moderate

Landscape Use

Poor

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

None

Indigenous Use(s)

Roots, Stems

Roots,

Stems

Special Purpose(s)

Groundcover, Pond Edge, Rampant, Sand Binder, Shade Tolerant, Shady Dry, Shady Moist, Soil Binder, Suckering, Sunny Moist

Groundcover,

Pond Edge,

Rampant,

Sand Binder,

Shade Tolerant,

Shady Dry,

Shady Moist,

Soil Binder,

Suckering,

Sunny Moist

Propagation

Fresh Spore

General Notes

It is a rapid growing fern that will colonise disturbed areas very quickly, forming a dense understory. Quite often treated as a weed because of this and can be difficult to eradicate. Can be poisonous to stock eating the fronds.

Native to a number of countries in the Southern Hemisphere. The Aboriginal people (Eora people) of the Sydney area called bracken fern, Gurgi, ate the roots after they were pounded into a paste and roasted. Juicy stems were rubbed on to relieve stining and itching of insect bites. The Maori's of new Zealand used the rhizomes as a staple food source, especially when out hunting.

In Western Australia tissue culture has been used to build up large numbers of plants for re-vegetation work on mining sites.

Propagation Notes

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Unknown Propagation

Seed Collecting

Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr

Sowing

Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Material Preparation

Place mature fronds, cut down into smaller pieces, in a paper bag and keep warm and dry. After a few days the spores and frass will collect in the bottom of the bag, remove the fine spore dust, place in an envelope. Store in a cool dark place. Sow spore as soon as possible after collection.

Propagating Mix

Peat Moss / Coco Peat sterilized with boiling water.

Treatment

Sow spores as soon after collection as possible for best results. Once the sterilized medium has cooled, place in a pot, spread the spores over the medium. Cover the top of the pot immediately with clear plastic or glass. Stand the pot in a shallow dish of water. Place on 21° heated bed. Maintain a hothouse temperature around 21 - 25° at plant level, where possible. Remove cover 1 -2 weeks after first fronds appear, care should be taken to ensure they do not dry out. Allow to harden off before repotting.

Viable spores/gram:-

Germination time:- 2 – 8 weeks prothalli appear, a green scum on surface. 6 - 12 months for first fronds to appear.

Pricking out:- when 2nd frond appears to avoid over crowding

Tube mix:- Coco Peat or Peat Moss 75% / Isolite 25%

Notes

Fertile fronds can sometimes be hard to locate so most propagation is done with rhizomes. It is a difficult species to propagate from spore and division.

Rhizomes

Division

May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Material Preparation

For field collected stock, choose small to medium clumps. Dig up and remove the top half of the foliage on site. Wash all soil from the roots. Carefully prize apart the root system for each section of the clump, ensure each section of rhizome has roots attached. Remove damaged roots. Reduce the number of stems per section by 50%. Drop all sections into a mild solution of Phosacid bath to kill any Phytopthera etc, from the field collection. Drain. Keep moist during preparation.

For nursery stock, remove from the pot. Wash all soil from the roots. Carefully prize apart the root system for each clump, ensure each section has roots attached. Remove damaged roots. Reduce the number of stems per section by 50%. Keep moist during preparation.

Propagating Mix

BioGrow Premium Potting mix

Treatment

Keep hydrated during prep. Pot up as soon as possible. Water in with dilute 30ml Seasol and 10ml Plant Starter solution to 5 lt. water. Place outside in a shady position.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 50 – 75%

Nursery Stock 95%

Rooting time:- Field Stock 6 - 8 weeks

Nursery Stock 4 - 6 weeks

Division Yield per 140mm Pot:- 2 – 3 plants

Notes

Field stock can be hard to take root. A difficult species to propagate from division or spore, considering it can be a pest weed in some areas.