Scientific Name

Pteridium aqulinium

Bracken

Common Name

Bracken

Type

Deciduous perennial

Description

Unrolling coils appear in spring, form into upright tough fern type sprays. Old growth dies and forms thick mall, suppressing all other growth. Thick fleshy rhizomes.

Habitat

Heaths, mountain sides, pine and deciduous forest.

Herbal Usage

Young coils edible.

History

Introduced from Europe. Used to improve soil in forests and as stock bedding.

Soil Type

Light

Soil Fertility

Poor

Soil Moisture

Moist

Soil pH

Acid

Sunlight

Very sunny

Success

Spreads by underground rhizomes, growth will suppress all other growth by dead matter. Many spores also produced.

Importance

Very serious weed where established. Difficult to control. May invade gardens.

Cultural Control

(1.4) in summer. Heavily disc the land and Prevent by (2.3, 2.6), and sow with crops/grass. (1.5) shoots regularly.

Chemical Control

(3.1.1a) in advanced growth (3.2.4) under trees.

Information Collated by James M. Burton as part of H.N.D. Course at Pencoed Agricultural College.
Chemical Information Correct as of 06:06:97. Always read and follow the instruction when using herbicides.