Texas Wildbuds
Pteridium aquilinum pseudocaudatum
(Western Bracken Fern)
Pteridium aquilinum subsp. pseudocaudatum, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 5625
Pteridium aquilinum subsp. pseudocaudatum, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 5620
Pteridium aquilinum subsp. pseudocaudatum, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 5626-2
Pteridium aquilinum subsp. pseudocaudatum, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 5626-1
Pteridium aquilinum subsp. pseudocaudatum, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 6660
Pteridium aquilinum subsp. pseudocaudatum, Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co. 6688
| Scientific Name | Pteridium aquilinum ssp. pseudocaudatum | USDA PLANTS Symbol | PTAQP |
| Common Name | Western Bracken Fern | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 897806 |
| Family | Dennstaedtiaceae (Bracken) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Acidic, dry, often sandy soils in open pine or oak woodlands and thickets; P. aquilinum is widespread throughout North America and Europe. Plant: Colony-forming perennial fern, 1 to 4 ft. tall, fronds overall up to 6 ft. long; stipes (leaf stalks) brown at base becoming straw-colored upward. Leaves: Very large leaves with usually 3 large leaflets that are triangular in outline and up to 3-1/2 ft. long and up to 3 ft. wide, and are futher divided (bi-pinnate) into up to 15 secondary leaflets becoming progressively smaller; these further divided into ~12 pairs of oblong pinnule lobes that also become progressively smaller, each with irregularly-undulate margins; terminal pinnule is significantly longer than lateral ones; pinnules are yellowish to medium green. Overall leaf structure is tri-pinnate, or three-times divided. Emerging leaflets have curled "fiddlehead-like" structure. Spores along the underside of the pinnule edges. Inflorescence: No flowers. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, Flora of North America, Minnesota Wildflowers and Illinois Wildflowers. | BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2026
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