Status:
valid
Authors:
Poir.
Source:
tro
Year:
1804
Citation Micro:
Encycl. 5: 714 (1804)
WFO Identifier:
wfo-0001109294
Common Names
- Pteris multifida
- Forked Brake
- Forked Fern
Description
Pteris multifida (also called Forked Brake, among many other common names) is a fern native to eastern North America. It is a medium-sized fern with a stout, erect rhizome and a single, erect, leathery, dark green frond. It is found in moist, shady woods, ravines, and stream banks in the eastern United States and Canada.
Uses & Benefits
Pteris multifida is used as an ornamental plant in gardens and flowerbeds. It is also used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments.
Flower, Seeds and Seedlings
Pteris multifida has small, yellow-green flowers and produces small, round, black seeds. The seedlings have a single, long, narrow leaf with a lanceolate shape and a deeply divided tip.
Cultivation and Propagation
Pteris multifida is a hardy, evergreen fern that is native to the western United States. It prefers partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Propagation is typically done by division or spores. Division should be done in early spring or late fall. Spores should be collected in late summer and sown on a sterile, moist medium.
Where to Find Pteris multifida
Pteris multifida is found in moist forests in the eastern United States, from Maine to Georgia.
Species in the Pteris genus
Species in the Pteridaceae family