Tropical Brackenfern
Pteridium arachnoideum
- Native to:
- Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Galápagos, Guam, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, Venezuelan Antilles, Windward Is.
iNaturalist: © ignacio_march (iNaturalist #12276674)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Pteridophyta | - Ferns
- Family:
- Dennstaedtiaceae
- Genus:
- Pteridium
- Species:
- Pteridium arachnoideum
- USDA Symbol:
- PTAR2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 200 cm
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
black-headed fireworm (Sparganothis pilleriana), bracken borer moth (Papaipema pterisii), California Tussock Moth (Leptarctia californiae), Callopistria cordata, Callopistria mollissima, Eueretagrotis perattentus, Euplexia benesimilis, fringed homochlodes moth (Homochlodes fritillaria), Garden Tiger Moth (Arctia caja), Hitched Arch (Melanchra adjuncta), Homochlodes lactispargaria, Melanchra assimilis, Olethreutes osmundana, Paradiarsia littoralis, Philedia punctomacularia, Spilosoma pteridis, Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Pteridium species are fire-adapted; rhizomes survive fire and resprout vigorously, often increasing in abundance post-fire.