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The bracken fern is a beautiful perennial. The plant is not only an original decoration for the garden, it is used as a food product and in folk medicine. It got its name because of the shape of the leaves. Many people see in triple fronds the wing of an eagle located on the country’s coat of arms. And there are those who noticed the initials of Jesus Christ in the herbaceous plant.
What does the bracken fern look like?
Bracken fern is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Fern class, Dennstedtiaceae family. Height 30-100 cm. The trunk is smooth, without scales.
The root system is well developed, spreading in all directions. Consists of vertical and horizontal underground shoots of black color. Every year new shoots appear on the creeping rhizome.
The foliage is light green in color.Size in height – 70 cm, feather-like, triangular shape. The structure is dense and rigid. The stepsons are located at a distance of 10-20 cm from each other. At first they have a twisted shape, similar to a snail. Bracken leaves are located on the stem in pairs, only the upper shoot is single.
The leaves are lanceolate, blunt at the ends, and lobed at the base. The dense edges of the segments are rolled up. On the lower pair there are nectaries. They secrete a sweet liquid that attracts ants.
Types of bracken fern
Some botanists believe that the bracken fern is a monotypic species. Another part is inclined to believe that there are about 10 subspecies. They are all quite similar to each other. However, the vast majority grow in the natural environment.
Pteridiumaquilinumvar. latiusculum
Found in grasslands in Ireland. The perennial grass has a main stem that is 1 cm in diameter. The leaves are large, triangular. In autumn the green part dies off. It was discovered by the American botanist Merritt Lyndon Fernald, who specialized in ferns and seed plants.
Pteridiumaquilinumvar. Feei
The description of this subtype of bracken fern became known thanks to the American botanist-pteridologist William Ralph Maxson.
Pteridiumaquilinumvar. Pseudocaudatum
This herbaceous plant was isolated from the general species by the writer, botanist and naturalist from America - Willard Nelson Clute. The plant prefers to grow in sunny areas and open glades.
Pteridiumaquilinumvar.latiusculum
Bracken is distributed in Mexico, China, Japan, Canada, USA, and northern Europe.The first to describe the variety was a geology teacher, botanist, mycologist - Lucien Marcus Underwood.
According to the encyclopedic portal for 2013, in addition to the four varieties already described, there are two subspecies of bracken fern:
- Pteridiumaquilinum subsp. Decompositum (Gaudich.) Lamoureux ex J. A. Thomson;
- Pinetorum.
How to distinguish bracken fern from other species
It is believed that the bracken fern is an edible plant, so as not to confuse it with other, poisonous varieties, it is important to know the differences.
- The size reaches 1.5 m, while the herbaceous plant does not form a bush.
- Fern sprouts emerge one by one from the ground. The distance between them is 10-15 cm. In ostrich or shield grass, shoots emerge simultaneously from one point.
- Fern stems are smooth and clean. There are no villi, leaves, or scales.
It is quite difficult to recognize an edible plant in the forest in the spring. Externally, the shoots are very similar. An additional sign will be old, overwintered leaves of the bracken fern. On them you can clearly see the geometric pattern, which is different for each type. This variety has more rounded leaf edges.
Does the bracken fern bloom?
There are many legends about the fern flower. They say that he appears on the night of Ivan Kupala. According to legend, this place hides a treasure. The flower is protected from prying eyes and preserved by evil spirits. Whoever finds it will be happy all his life. People still believe in giving, but no one has ever found a fire flower.
Scientists, in turn, reject the beliefs. They claim that the bracken fern does not bloom. The plant reproduces not by seeds, but by spores.On the underside of the leaf there are brown or green balls. These are sporangia in which spores mature.
How does the bracken fern reproduce?
By nature, fern is an asexual plant. Therefore, there are several ways to reproduce it: spores, division of roots, shoots.
The vegetative method of propagation of the bracken fern involves the formation of rooted cuttings, which can subsequently be separated from the mother and transplanted to a permanent place. First of all, long fluffy shoots are selected. They bend them to the surface of the earth and press them down with a stone. This procedure should be carried out in the spring season, during the period of active vegetative growth. After a while, the arrow takes root.
In the natural environment, lichens multiply by spores. At home, this method is lengthy and painstaking. In September, cut the leaves and dry them. Then brush off the spores onto a piece of paper. Dried seed material is stored in sealed packaging until winter. In January-February, containers for seedlings are prepared. Fill with peat mixture. Afterwards, thoroughly moisten, pour out the spores and cover with glass. For germination, the containers are placed in a warm, bright place, regularly ventilated and sprayed with warm water. After 2 months, green moss forms on the surface, then the glass must be removed. Grown seedlings can be planted in separate cups. In May, the seedlings are ready for planting in the ground.
The easiest, but at the same time effective method of propagating bracken fern is by dividing the rhizome. An adult bush with a developed root system, which quickly recovers after pruning, is suitable for the procedure. In the spring, when warm weather sets in, you can dig up Orlyak.The rhizome is divided into sections with one or two buds. The cut areas are treated with crushed activated carbon. And immediately planted in moist soil.
Where does the bracken fern grow?
Light forests are the favorite habitat of the bracken fern. The plant can be found on all continents except Antarctica. Does not grow in steppes and deserts. The herbaceous plant prefers sandy soils, like coniferous forests, and also deciduous ones, where birch trees grow. Often the culture chooses open hills, forest edges, and bush thickets.
Bracken clogs the grass at the edge, creating continuous thickets in a small area. The plant often colonizes clearings, abandoned fields, plantations, and pastures. In hayfields in some countries, ferns are difficult to grow weed. In the mountains it can grow at a level no higher than the mid-mountain zone. In Russia, Orlyak can be found in Siberia, the Urals, the Far East, and in the European part.
When is the bracken fern harvested?
The bracken fern is collected in mid-spring. According to popular belief, this necessary period begins when the lilies of the valley bloom or the bird cherry fades. You need to collect young shoots that break easily. If the sprouts become denser and begin to bend, stop collecting.
The required stem length is 15-25 cm, thickness - 10 mm. Cut at the base so that the plant can continue to develop. The shoots are tied into bundles. Fern sprouts become hard quickly, so you should cook them quickly.
The collected shoots in the clutches are salted. Sprinkle each layer generously with table salt. The top is covered and oppression is installed. The sprouts should remain in this position for 10-20 days.
Then open the tub and drain the brine. Now the top layers are laid down, the bottom layers are laid up. Fill with brine again, but the salt concentration is reduced by 5 times.
In the Leningrad region
Harvesting the bracken fern in the Leningrad region begins around May 15 and lasts a month. Although the date may vary depending on the weather in the region. A peculiar crunching sound serves as a signal about the appropriate state of the plant.
The harvesting season for the herbaceous plant is short. Therefore, fern can be frozen in batches if it is not possible to process it immediately. Salting is necessary for long-term storage of the product.
In outskirts of Moscow
In the Moscow region, the bracken fern is found everywhere: in parks, pine forests, and deciduous plantings. Only young shoots are suitable for harvesting. Therefore, it is necessary to collect at an early stage of the growing season. It is important to do it before the leaves bloom and the shoots are still soft. The best time to collect is mid-May or early June.
In Siberia
The collection of bracken fern in Siberia begins at the end of May. It is necessary to monitor the sprouts in the spring forest, since there is no specific date. Shoots emerge from the ground at the same time as the first flowers. It is then that the sprouts reach their optimal size.
In the Urals
As already noted, the herbaceous plant is found throughout Russia. The bracken fern also grows in the Urals in forests, on light slopes. For food purposes, collection begins in the second ten days of May. The period lasts 20-25 days.
Is it possible to grow bracken fern on the plot?
Despite the fact that the bracken fern is considered a forest plant, many gardeners plant it in their garden plots. When creating a landscape design, the plant fits right into any composition. You just need to familiarize yourself with the basic care rules.
- When purchasing an adult, you need to pay attention to its appearance. The leaves should be green, whole, without dry or yellowed parts. Before planting, it is better to leave the purchased Orlyak for 24 hours in a dark place. This way the plant will regain its strength.
- The ideal place for a fern is a darkened part of the garden. There the foliage takes on a richer, green color. In the sun the color becomes pale.
- Light, medium fertilized soil will be required. A mixture of deciduous soil, sand, and peat is suitable. The presence of lime in the soil has a positive effect on plant growth. It is not recommended to plant Orlyak in loam.
- In open ground, a herbaceous crop can survive without shelter for the winter. The leaves fall off, and the root is so deep that the bracken fern does not mind frost.
- It is important to keep the soil moist. Water immediately after the soil dries out. Avoid stagnation of water.
- Fertilizers must be applied in doses. The first feeding is carried out when the first young shoots appear. For this purpose, special mineral complexes for ferns are used. Follow the dosage for the Orlyak variety indicated in the instructions.
Diseases and pests
The common bracken fern is resistant to diseases, but often suffers from attacks by harmful insects. The main enemies are:
- whitefly;
- thrips;
- scale insect.
You can get rid of these parasites using insecticides. You just need to apply it without exceeding the specified amount, otherwise you can harm the plant.
Conclusion
The bracken fern is often called “Far Eastern”. In the Far East, culture is highly valued. It grows everywhere there, as well as in Siberia, the central part of Russia, and the Urals. The herbaceous plant is collected and stored for future use. However, in order not to go to the forest, you can grow it on your own plot. The care required is simple, the plant is able to grow independently, without outside help. The spreading crown develops quite quickly.
