Genus: Pteridium — bracken fern
This fern genus has spore-bearing leaves that are similar to its vegetative leaves. Fertile plants have sori that grow in a band under a flap formed by the leaf margin. Reference: Jacobs and Peck (1993).
Family
Dennstaedtiaceae (bracken family)
This genus’s species in New England
Visit this genus in the Dichotomous Key

![Plant form: Pteridium aquilinum. ~ By Arthur Haines. ~ Copyright © 2025 Arthur Haines. ~ arthur.d.haines[at]gmail.com](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-239x239/Dennstaedtiaceae/pteridium-aquilinum-latiusculum-ha-ahaines-c.jpg)