Bracken

Bracken (Pteridium) is a group of large, rough ferns found all over the world except Antarctica. They grow best in wild, open areas called moorlands and have big, divided leaves called fronds. The word "bracken" comes from old Norse words meaning fern, similar to words still used in languages like Swedish and Danish.

Scientists used to think bracken was just one kind, called Pteridium aquilinum, but now they believe there are about ten different species. Like other ferns, bracken does not grow from seeds. Instead, it makes tiny particles called spores to create new plants.

Young bracken fronds, known as fiddleheads, are sometimes eaten as food. However, it is important to be careful because some of these plants can contain substances that may be harmful.

Description

Bracken is one of the oldest types of ferns, with fossils from the Eocene period, which is about 55 million years old. It grows big, triangular leaves called fronds from an underground part called a rootstock. These fronds can get quite tall—sometimes up to about 8 feet long, but usually between 2 and 6 and a half feet high. In colder places, bracken loses its leaves in winter. It likes to grow on hilly slopes where the soil drains well.

Fern spores, which help the plant reproduce, are found under the leaves in special spots called sori. In bracken, these sori line up along the edge of the leaf, unlike most other ferns where they are in the middle of the leaf.

Species

Here are the different kinds of bracken plants that scientists recognize today:

1. Pteridium aquilinum - found almost everywhere in the world
2. Pteridium arachnoideum - grows in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Galápagos
3. Pteridium caudatum - seen in Mexico, Central and South America, Florida, and the West Indies
4. Pteridium centrali-africanum - lives in Zaire, Zambia, Tanzania, and Burundi
5. Pteridium esculentum - grows in China, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand
6. Pteridium falcatum - found in Guangxi
7. Pteridium feei - grows in Mexico and Central America
8. Pteridium lineare - found in Yunnan
9. Pteridium revolutum - lives in China
10. Pteridium tauricum - grows in the Caucasus
11. Pteridium yunnanense - found in Yunnan

Distribution and habitat

Pteridium aquilinum, also called bracken or common bracken, is found in many parts of the world in places with temperate and subtropical climates. It grows well in areas like moorlands but does not like wet marshes or fens.

In the past, bracken was used for animal bedding, making soap, and as a fertiliser. Today, it is seen as a plant that grows too quickly and can take over areas where other plants used to grow. It can be harmful to animals like cows, dogs, sheep, pigs, and horses, and it may also cause health issues for people. Bracken can spread fast, covering more land each year, which can hurt wildlife and make it hard for people to use the land. It is especially common in places like Ireland, Scotland, Cumbria, the North York Moors, Wales, and southwest England.

Ecology

Bracken is one of the most successful ferns and can survive in tough conditions like acid soils. It grows well and can take over other plants by releasing special chemicals that stop them from growing.

Bracken provides shade and a warm, humid environment that helps some plants and fungi grow. For example, certain woodland fungi live under bracken, and plants like the common bluebell and wood anemone can thrive in these areas.

Control

Managing bracken can help other plants and animals thrive. There are several ways to control bracken, and each has its own challenges. It’s important to choose the right method and stick with it over many years to see real results.

Experts suggest methods like cutting the plants regularly, using special machines to crush them, or letting animals like cows and horses walk through the area to break them down. Some people also use safe sprays to help control bracken, but care must be taken to protect other plants. Letting other plants grow in place of bracken, or carefully burning the area, can also help. However, each method has its own rules and needs to be done carefully.

Uses

Bracken fiddleheads have been eaten by many cultures. In East Asian cuisine, especially in Korea, Japan, and China, bracken is a common ingredient in dishes like bibimbap and warabimochi.

Bracken has also been used to make potash, a substance important for making soap and glass. Today, it is sometimes used as bedding for animals, which later breaks down into rich mulch for the soil.

Toxicity

Bracken contains special chemicals that can be harmful to animals and people. When animals eat bracken when they have no other food, it can make them sick. This is especially true for cows, and even the milk from these cows can carry harmful chemicals.

For humans, eating bracken has been linked to certain health problems, especially in places where bracken grows a lot. Some methods, like soaking and cooking, can help remove these harmful chemicals from bracken before it is eaten. However, it is generally advised to avoid eating bracken.

Uncooked bracken can also remove a important vitamin called thiamine (vitamin B1) from food, which can cause health issues in some animals.

Young bracken fronds can release a chemical that harms insects, causing them to shed their skin too many times and die. Scientists are studying bracken to see if it can help create natural ways to protect plants from pests.

Archaeology

Many places have old remains from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages up to the Industrial Revolution. The roots of bracken plants can damage these sites by breaking up the layers of soil and other clues. These roots can grow far underground between the leaves and make up most of the plant.

In culture

In the north of England, people often call bracken "Moorland Scrub."

A creature in the 2023 video game Lethal Company is named after the bracken plant.