A few of this plant is growing in our front yard. Though the leaves look like fern they don't grow like a fern. You can the small ones that just sprouted in the background.
2 Answers
I'd say this is definitely Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum). It's an invasive pest and is known to have allelopathic effects on some surrounding plants, which is how it so readily colonizes an area. Difficult to control, if you need to, it has extremely thick, brownish black underground stems that can and do travel long distances. Some information in the link below, but its from the RHS, based in the UK - you will need to check what treatments are available in your own area, if you wish to control it. As a point of interest, there are higher rates of cancer in individuals who are constantly in a bracken ridden environment, perhaps working in woods where there's plenty of it, etc, though the risk is no higher than anywhere else for people who are simply visiting or passing through occasionally.
- 135,647
- 3
- 80
- 169
Bracken fern in the forest is early successional (first plant after disturbance) and very indicative of a previous fire or major ground disturbance. Out in the open - I don't know. I would not eat this unless my stomach had grown experienced in digesting heavy strong-fibrous plants.
N.B - In all ferns, the fronds do not grow, they "unroll" after ripening while coiled.
Forester
- 51
- 1
