Pteridium aquilinum
| Pteridium aquilinum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Photo by Kevin Robertson | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Tracheophyta- Vascular plants |
| Class: | Polypodiopsida - Leptosporangiate ferns |
| Order: | Polypodiales |
| Family: | Dennstaedtiaceae |
| Genus: | Pteridium |
| Species: | P. aquilinum |
| Binomial name | |
| Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn | |
| |
| Natural range of Pteridium aquilinum from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Common names: Brakenfern
Contents
[hide]Taxonomic notes
Description
A description of Pteridium aquilinum is provided in The Flora of North America.
Distribution
Ecology
Habitat
Pteridium aquilinum is restricted to native groundcover with a statistical affinity in upland pinelands of South Georgia. [1] P. aquilinum displays a negative response to agricultural soil distrubance in South Carolinian old growth longleaf forests.[2] This may mark it as a possible indicator species for remnant woodland/post-agricultural woodland.[3] When exposed to soil disturbance by military training in West Georgia, P. aquilinum responds negatively by way of absence.[4] It also responds negatively to soil disturbance by agriculture in Southwest Georgia.[5][6] It responds both positively and negatively to soil disturbance by clearcutting and roller chopping in North Florida.[7] P. aquilinum responds positively to soil disturbance by clearcutting and chopping in North Florida flatwoods forests.[8]
Pteridium aquilinum is frequent and abundant in the North Florida Longleaf Woodlands, Clayhill Longleaf Woodlands, Panhandle Silty Longleaf Woodlands, and Upper Panhandle Savannas community types as described in Carr et al. (2010).[9]
Seed dispersal
This species is thought to be dispersed by wind.[10]
Conservation and management
Cultivation and restoration
Photo Gallery
Pteridium aquilinum root Photo by Kevin Robertson
Pebble Hill Plantation
2015
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References and notes
- Jump up ↑ Ostertag, T.E., and K.M. Robertson. 2007. A comparison of native versus old-field vegetation in upland pinelands managed with frequent fire, South Georgia, USA. Pages 109–120 in R.E. Masters and K.E.M. Galley (eds.). Proceedings of the 23rd Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference: Fire in Grassland and Shrubland Ecosystems.
- Jump up ↑ Brudvig, L.A. and E.I. Damchen. (2011). Land-use history, historical connectivity, and land management interact to determine longleaf pine woodland understory richness and composition. Ecography 34: 257-266.
- Jump up ↑ Brudvig, L.A., E Grman, C.W. Habeck, and J.A. Ledvina. (2013). Strong legacy of agricultural land use on soils and understory plant communities in longleaf pine woodlands. Forest Ecology and Management 310: 944-955.
- Jump up ↑ Dale, V.H., S.C. Beyeler, and B. Jackson. (2002). Understory vegetation indicators of anthropogenic disturbance in longleaf pine forests at Fort Benning, Georgia, USA. Ecological Indicators 1(3):155-170.
- Jump up ↑ Hedman, C.W., S.L. Grace, and S.E. King. (2000). Vegetation composition and structure of southern coastal plain pine forests: an ecological comparison. Forest Ecology and Management 134:233-247.
- Jump up ↑ Kirkman, L.K., K.L. Coffey, R.J. Mitchell, and E.B. Moser. Ground Cover Recovery Patterns and Life-History Traits: Implications for Restoration Obstacles and Opportunities in a Species-Rich Savanna. (2004). Journal of Ecology 92(3):409-421.
- Jump up ↑ Lewis, C.E., G.W. Tanner, and W.S. Terry. (1988). Plant responses to pine management and deferred-rotation grazing in north Florida. Journal of Range Management 41(6):460-465.
- Jump up ↑ Moore, W.H., B.F. Swindel, and W.S. Terry. (1982). Vegetative Response to Clearcutting and Chopping in a North Florida Flatwoods Forest. Journal of Range Management 35(2):214-218.
- Jump up ↑ Carr, S.C., K.M. Robertson, and R.K. Peet. 2010. A vegetation classification of fire-dependent pinelands of Florida. Castanea 75:153-189.
- Jump up ↑ Kirkman, L. Katherine. Unpublished database of seed dispersal mode of plants found in Coastal Plain longleaf pine-grasslands of the Jones Ecological Research Center, Georgia.
