Species Overview

Native to: Old world tropics and subtropics

Giant brake fern has established in the West Indies, Central America, and South America and is one of four Pteris species that has escaped cultivation in Florida. It is found in low, moist habitats and appears to require continually saturated soils. In a 1957 article on cultivated ferns in the American Fern journal, C.V. Morton states that giant brake fern was sold by Royal Palm Nurseries of Oneco, Florida beginning in 1896. The species was described as “reaching a height of 6 feet, forming a magnificent specimen.” Morton describes the species escaping cultivation and said that it was common in various locations in the Pompano, Florida area by 1928.

Species Characteristics

Family: Pteridaceae

Habit: large herbaceous fern.

Stalk/Fronds: very stout stems with tall, three-parted fronds. The petiole (leaf stalk) is straw to reddish brown colored and can grow to be one to one and a half meters long. The large leaf blades are deltoid (triangular) in shape and pinnate pinnatifid (remaining sufficiently connected to each other that they are not separate leaflets). The pinnule (leaflet) margins are entire (smooth) to finely toothed.

Sori (spore producing structures): borne along the revolute (inrolled) margins on the underside of the pinnules.

Distribution in Florida: South Florida, scattered in Central Florida.

Impacts

Giant brake fern has been found in a variety of habitats including wet flatwoods, cattail stands, floodplains, hardwood swamps, cypress swamps and hardwood hammocks. It has been documented in scatted to dense patches in many south Florida conservation areas where it has the potential to displace native plants and disrupt sensitive habitats. It has been controlled when found in efforts to prevent any major impacts from its continued spread.

Do not plant. Spore production occurs year-round in Florida, making decontamination of equipment, clothing, and gear critical after working in infested areas.

None known.

Consult your local UF IFAS Extension for assistance with management recommendations.