Bracken fern

Pteridium aquilinum

Foliage Type:

leaf

Arrangement:

triangular to egg-shaped

Distinguishing features: size - knee high foliage - wavy, dark green, almost horizontal leaves leaves - 3 feet long by 3 feet wide, coarse texture, divided into 3 nearly equal parts (2 nearly opposite) leaves - stemmed, cut into leaflets and subleaflets leaf tips - leaves simple, narrow, oblong, blunt-tipped and not even cut to the midrib

Habitats:	dry mesic sites mesic sites wet mesic sites
Often confused with:	oak fern
Ecological Value:
Did You Know?	Bracken fern is poisonous in excessive doses, disturbs thiamine metabolism. is reported to cause cancer in grazing animals (contains 3 carcinogens). is the most common fern.
Uses / Ethnobotanical uses:	American Indian used root tea for stomach cramps, diarrhea smoke for headaches poulticed root for burns and sores, caked breasts wash to promote hair growth astringent, tonic historically used a root tea for worms