Pteridium esculentum, commonly known as bracken fern, Austral bracken or simply bracken, is a species of the bracken genus native to a number of countries in the Southern Hemisphere. Esculentum means edible. First described as Pteris esculenta by German botanist Georg Forster in 1786,[1] it gained its current binomial name in 1908.[2] The Eora people of the Sydney region knew it as gurgi.[3]
P. esculentum grows from creeping rhizomes, which are covered with reddish hair. From them arise single large roughly triangular fronds, which grow to 0.5–2 metres (1 ft 8 in – 6 ft 7 in) tall. The fronds are stiff with a brown stripe.[4]
Like its northern hemisphere relatives, Pteridium esculentum is very quick to colonise disturbed areas and can outcompete other plants to form a dense understorey. It is often treated as a weed. It does create a more humid sheltered microclimate under its leaves and is food for a variety of native insects.[7] Two species of fruit fly (Drosophila) were recorded in a field study near Sydney.[8] Another study near Sydney yielded 17 herbivorous arthropods (15 insects and two mites), notable for the lack of Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies) and beetles.[9]
Usesedit
The Māori of New Zealand used the rhizomes of Pteridium esculentum (aruhe) as a staple food, especially for exploring or hunting groups away from permanent settlements; much of the widespread distribution of this species in present-day New Zealand is in fact a consequence of prehistoric deforestation and subsequent tending of aruhe stands on rich soils (which produced the best rhizomes).[10] The rhizomes were air-dried so that they could be stored and became lighter; for consumption, they were briefly heated and then softened with a patu aruhe (rhizome pounder); the starch could then be sucked from the fibers by each diner, or collected if it were to be prepared for a larger feast. Patu aruhe were significant items and several distinct styles were developed.[10]
Indigenous people in Australia ate the roots after they were pounded into a paste and roasted.[3]
Pteridium esculentum contains the known bracken carcinogen ptaquiloside.[11] Concentrations of ptaquiloside in bracken in New Zealand vary greatly, and in a high proportion of stands ptaquiloside is not found. A higher incidence of ptaquiloside, and some very high concentrations, are found in areas where bovine enzootic haematuria and/or acute haemorrhagic syndrome was known to occur.[12]
Referencesedit
^"Pteris esculenta G.Forst". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
^"Pteridium esculentum (G.Forst.) Cockayne". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
^ ab"Pteridium esculentum". Australian National Botanic Gardens website. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
^ abPeter G. Wilson. "New South Wales Flora Online: Pteridium esculentum". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
^"Pteridium esculentum". Grimwade Plant Collection. University of Melbourne. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
^Mesibov, Bob. . The Unique Flora of Tasmania. Hobart District Group of The Australian Plants Society - Tasmania Inc. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
^Thomson, J. A., Jackson, M. J. and Bock, I. R. (1982). "Contrasting resource utilisation in two Australian species of Drosophila Fallen (Diptera) feeding on the bracken fern Pteridium scopoli". Journal of the Australian Entomological Society. 21 (1): 29–30. doi:10.1111/j.1440-6055.1982.tb01760.x.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Shuter, E. & Westoby, M. (1982). "Herbivorous arthropods on bracken (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Khun) in Australia compared with elsewhere". Australian Journal of Ecology. 17 (3): 329–339. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.1992.tb00815.x.
^ abMcGlone, Matt S., Wilmshirst, Janet M. & Leach, Helen M. (2005). "An ecological and historical review of bracken (Pteridium esculentum) in New Zealand, and its cultural significance" (PDF). New Zealand Journal of Ecology. 28 (2): 165–184.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Fletcher M.T., Hayes P.Y., Somerville M.J., De Voss J.J."Ptesculentoside, a novel norsesquiterpene glucoside from the Australian bracken fern Pteridium esculentum". Tetrahedron Letters. 51 (15) (pp 1997-1999), 2010.
^LH Rasmussen, DR Lauren, BL Smith & HCB Hansen, "Variation in ptaquiloside content in bracken (Pteridium esculentum (Forst. f) Cockayne) in New Zealand" doi:10.1080/00480169.2008.36851 New Zealand Veterinary Journal Volume 56, Issue 6, 2008
External linksedit
Media related to Pteridium esculentum at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Pteridium esculentum at Wikispecies
January 01, 1970
pteridium, esculentum, commonly, known, bracken, fern, austral, bracken, simply, bracken, species, bracken, genus, native, number, countries, southern, hemisphere, esculentum, means, edible, first, described, pteris, esculenta, german, botanist, georg, forster. Pteridium esculentum commonly known as bracken fern Austral bracken or simply bracken is a species of the bracken genus native to a number of countries in the Southern Hemisphere Esculentum means edible First described as Pteris esculenta by German botanist Georg Forster in 1786 1 it gained its current binomial name in 1908 2 The Eora people of the Sydney region knew it as gurgi 3 Pteridium esculentum Bracken at Chatswood West Australia Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Division Polypodiophyta Class Polypodiopsida Order Polypodiales Family Dennstaedtiaceae Genus Pteridium Species P esculentum Binomial name Pteridium esculentum G Forst Cockayne Contents 1 Morphology 2 Distribution 3 Ecology 4 Uses 5 References 6 External linksMorphology editP esculentum grows from creeping rhizomes which are covered with reddish hair From them arise single large roughly triangular fronds which grow to 0 5 2 metres 1 ft 8 in 6 ft 7 in tall The fronds are stiff with a brown stripe 4 Distribution editIt is found in all states of Australia apart from the Northern Territory as well as New Zealand Norfolk Island Malaysia Polynesia and New Caledonia Within Victoria it is widespread and common to altitudes of 1 000 metres 3 300 ft 5 In New South Wales it occurs across central eastern and southern parts of the state It can also be weedy and invade disturbed areas 4 In Western Australia it grows near the southern and western coastlines as far north as Geraldton 6 Ecology editLike its northern hemisphere relatives Pteridium esculentum is very quick to colonise disturbed areas and can outcompete other plants to form a dense understorey It is often treated as a weed It does create a more humid sheltered microclimate under its leaves and is food for a variety of native insects 7 Two species of fruit fly Drosophila were recorded in a field study near Sydney 8 Another study near Sydney yielded 17 herbivorous arthropods 15 insects and two mites notable for the lack of Hymenoptera ants bees wasps and sawflies and beetles 9 Uses editThe Maori of New Zealand used the rhizomes of Pteridium esculentum aruhe as a staple food especially for exploring or hunting groups away from permanent settlements much of the widespread distribution of this species in present day New Zealand is in fact a consequence of prehistoric deforestation and subsequent tending of aruhe stands on rich soils which produced the best rhizomes 10 The rhizomes were air dried so that they could be stored and became lighter for consumption they were briefly heated and then softened with a patu aruhe rhizome pounder the starch could then be sucked from the fibers by each diner or collected if it were to be prepared for a larger feast Patu aruhe were significant items and several distinct styles were developed 10 Indigenous people in Australia ate the roots after they were pounded into a paste and roasted 3 Pteridium esculentum contains the known bracken carcinogen ptaquiloside 11 Concentrations of ptaquiloside in bracken in New Zealand vary greatly and in a high proportion of stands ptaquiloside is not found A higher incidence of ptaquiloside and some very high concentrations are found in areas where bovine enzootic haematuria and or acute haemorrhagic syndrome was known to occur 12 References edit Pteris esculenta G Forst Australian Plant Name Index APNI IBIS database Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research Australian Government Pteridium esculentum G Forst Cockayne Australian Plant Name Index APNI IBIS database Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research Australian Government a b Pteridium esculentum Australian National Botanic Gardens website Retrieved 22 June 2010 a b Peter G Wilson New South Wales Flora Online Pteridium esculentum Royal Botanic Gardens amp Domain Trust Sydney Australia Pteridium esculentum Grimwade Plant Collection University of Melbourne Retrieved June 23 2010 Pteridium esculentum FloraBase Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions Mesibov Bob Bracken and Bugs The Unique Flora of Tasmania Hobart District Group of The Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc Archived from the original on 18 September 2010 Retrieved 22 June 2010 Thomson J A Jackson M J and Bock I R 1982 Contrasting resource utilisation in two Australian species of Drosophila Fallen Diptera feeding on the bracken fern Pteridium scopoli Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 21 1 29 30 doi 10 1111 j 1440 6055 1982 tb01760 x a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Shuter E amp Westoby M 1982 Herbivorous arthropods on bracken Pteridium aquilinum L Khun in Australia compared with elsewhere Australian Journal of Ecology 17 3 329 339 doi 10 1111 j 1442 9993 1992 tb00815 x a b McGlone Matt S Wilmshirst Janet M amp Leach Helen M 2005 An ecological and historical review of bracken Pteridium esculentum in New Zealand and its cultural significance PDF New Zealand Journal of Ecology 28 2 165 184 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Fletcher M T Hayes P Y Somerville M J De Voss J J Ptesculentoside a novel norsesquiterpene glucoside from the Australian bracken fern Pteridium esculentum Tetrahedron Letters 51 15 pp 1997 1999 2010 LH Rasmussen DR Lauren BL Smith amp HCB Hansen Variation in ptaquiloside content in bracken Pteridium esculentum Forst f Cockayne in New Zealand doi 10 1080 00480169 2008 36851 New Zealand Veterinary Journal Volume 56 Issue 6 2008External links edit nbsp Media related to Pteridium esculentum at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Data related to Pteridium esculentum at Wikispecies Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pteridium esculentum amp oldid 1175944989, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
