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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