Pteridium esculentum

Bracken at Watson, ACT

Pteridium esculentum at Watson, ACT - 27 May 2022
Pteridium esculentum at Watson, ACT - 27 May 2022
Request use of media

Identification history

Pteridium esculentum 7 Jan 2023 Tapirlord
Pteridium esculentum 28 May 2022 waltraud

Identify this sighting


Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

Growing in a soil-filled gap of a low-branched Exocarpos cupressiformis.

4 comments

dcnicholls wrote:
   28 May 2022
Very unlikely to be P. esculentum which needs deep soil . Looks like one of the Hypolepis species
waltraud wrote:
   29 May 2022
Perhaps the roots are anchored in the deep soil surrounding the base of the Exocarpos tree? I will go back for further investigation and maybe collect a specimen for proper id. Are there distinguishing features between Pteridium esculentum and Hypolepis sp?
We found Bracken relatively close to this site; Hypolepis would be the first sighting for Mt Majura...
dcnicholls wrote:
   29 May 2022
Distinguishing features are the spores: circular sporangia along the pinnules in Hypoleis, under recurved edges on Pteridium. Also check the colour of the rachis and any hairs.
waltraud wrote:
   31 May 2022
Many thanks; will do next opportunity.

Please Login or Register to comment.

Location information

Sighting information

Additional information

  • 30cm to 1 metre Plant height

Species information

  • Pteridium esculentum Scientific name
  • Bracken Common name
  • Not Sensitive
  • Local native
  • Medium weed or pest
  • Up to 1295.04m Recorded at altitude
  • 154 images trained Machine learning
  • In flower
  • External link More information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Verified by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
1,894,840 sightings of 21,090 species in 9,306 locations from 12,939 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.