PTERIDIUM Gled. ex Scop. - BRACKEN
Scientific Description:
Plant 40−200 cm, underground rhizome stout, hairy. Leaves solitary, 3-pinnate, petiole stiff, erect, smooth, as long as the deltoid blade. Rachis of blade bent almost at right angles to petiole, pinnae in l0−20 pairs, pinnules oblong, pectinate, rather acute, glabrous above, more or less woolly below. Sori continuous along the margin of the segments. Indusium membranous, ciliate at margin, attached to the recurved margin of the segment.
Reference:
Henderson DM (1965). Pteridium Scop., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 1: 46.
Public Description:
Pteridium, known as “bracken”, spread all over the world except Antartica and desserts. There are approximately 11 species in the world and 1 species (1 taxa) in Türkiye. Like other ferns, this genus does not contain flower, fruit or seed. They have large leaves developing from rhizome in the underground. On the lower surface of the leaves there are brown sporangia, microscopic structures (spores) produced in these vesicles are released into the environment and spores germinate in appropriate environmental conditions to develop new plants. The Bracken fiddleheads (the immature, tightly curled emerging fronds) have been considered edible by many cultures throughout history, and are still commonly used today as a foodstuff. However, studies have shown that these plants contain carcinogenic substances linked to oesophageal and stomach cancer. It is therefore not recommended to be eaten.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracken/, Accessed date: 07.02.2016.
Anonymous 2 (2016). http://www.britannica.com/plant/Pteridium/, Accessed date: 07.02.2016.
Anonymous 3 (2016). https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/genus/pteridium/, Accessed date: 07.02.2016
Güner A (2012). Pteridium Gled. ex Scop., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 5.
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