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.