Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Pteridium aquilinum (Linnaeus) Kuhn var. pubescens Underwood
(Western Bracken Fern)
Family: Dennstaedtiaceae
Status: Native
Synonyms:
None
Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens can be up to about a meter tall. There is only one branch from the base, and the broadly triangular blades are three pinnate. The sori form a nearly continuous band at the edge of the pinnule. There are hairs on the undersurface of the pinnae. The long creeping rhizomes and weedy growth pattern can fill a meadow with the fronds that arise from them.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens, photo Russ Kleinman & Adela Lente, Pinos Altos Range, Little Cherry Creek Ranch Road, June 27, 2007
Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens, undersurface of frond, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Signal Peak turnoff, Oct. 19, 2007
Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens, closeup of undersurface of frond with sori/sporangia and pubescence, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Little Cherry Creek, July 2, 2009
Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens, 1x field macro of undersurface of frond with sori/sporangia and pubescence, photo Russ Kleinman, Pinos Altos Range, Little Cherry Creek, July 2, 2009
Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens, rhizomatous growth filling meadow, photo Russ Kleinman, Black Range, North Star Road at Meason Flats, July 14, 2009
Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens, DAZ herbarium, collector Allen Campbell, October 1964, nar Red Stone Cabin on Cherry Creek
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