giant brake
(Pteris tripartita)
This species is Introduced in the United States
Origin
Native to tropical Asia.
Appearance
Fast-growing fern to 6.9' (2.1 m) tall, most aggressive in moist habitats.
Foliage
Young leaves branch into 3 parts from base of leaf blade; this becomes 5-7 branches in mature leaves. Pinnate-pinnatifid (sufficiently connected so that they are not separate leaflets).
Spores
Lacks flowers and fruits; reproduces by tiny windborne spores that form in sporangia along leaf margins.
Could be confused with:
Florida tree fern, especially when young but leaf structure and spore arrangement are different.
Citation
Angelo, C., Cooley, H., Giardina, D., et al. 2019. Everglades CISMA: Early Detection, Rapid Response Plant Species. Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) CISMA and Friends of Everglades CISMA. Retrieved from https://bugwoodcloud.org/mura/ECISMA/assets/File/ECISMA_plantEDRR_.pdf
Native to tropical Asia.
Appearance
Fast-growing fern to 6.9' (2.1 m) tall, most aggressive in moist habitats.
Foliage
Young leaves branch into 3 parts from base of leaf blade; this becomes 5-7 branches in mature leaves. Pinnate-pinnatifid (sufficiently connected so that they are not separate leaflets).
Spores
Lacks flowers and fruits; reproduces by tiny windborne spores that form in sporangia along leaf margins.
Could be confused with:
Florida tree fern, especially when young but leaf structure and spore arrangement are different.
Citation
Angelo, C., Cooley, H., Giardina, D., et al. 2019. Everglades CISMA: Early Detection, Rapid Response Plant Species. Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) CISMA and Friends of Everglades CISMA. Retrieved from https://bugwoodcloud.org/mura/ECISMA/assets/File/ECISMA_plantEDRR_.pdf
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Division: Pteridophyta |
| Class: Polypodiopsida |
| Order: Polypodiales |
| Family: Pteridaceae |
| Genus: Pteris |
| Pteris tripartita |