Taxon: Pteridium caudatum (L.) Maxon

Summary

Genus:

Pteridium

Family:

Dennstaedtiaceae

Nomen number:

456011

Place of publication:

Proc. U.S. Natl. Mus. 23(1226):631. 1901

Comment:

a tetraploid species

Verified:

12/16/2010 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

1 (1 active, 0 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Basionym
Pteris caudata L.

Homotypic Synonym(s)
Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn var. caudatum (L.) Sadeb.

No images

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
Stolze, R. G. et al. 1976, 1981. Ferns and fern allies of Guatemala. Fieldiana, Bot. 39:1-130; n.s., 6:1-522. Note: = Pteridium aquilinum var. caudatum
Thomson, J. A. & M. E. Alonso-Amelot. 2002. Clarification of the taxonomic status and relationships of Pteridium caudatum (Dennstaedtiaceae) in Central and South America. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 140:237-248.
Tryon, R. M. & R. G. Stolze. 1989. Part II. (13. Pteridaceae - 15. Dennstaedtiaceae). In: Tryon, R. M. & R. G. Stolze, eds., Pteridophyta of Peru. Fieldiana, Botany new ser. 22:105. Note: = Pteridium aquilinum var. caudatum

Common names

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Baja California Sur		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Durango		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Nuevo León		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	San Luis Potosí		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Sinaloa		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Tamaulipas		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida	s.	FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America. 203.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Campeche		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Chiapas		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Guerrero		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Hidalgo		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Jalisco		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Michoacán de Ocampo		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Morelos		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Nayarit		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Oaxaca		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Puebla		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Querétaro		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Quintana Roo		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Revillagigedo		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Tabasco		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Yucatán		Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Antigua and Barbuda			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Bahamas			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Bermuda			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Cuba			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Dominican Republic			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Haiti			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Jamaica			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Montserrat			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Trinidad and Tobago			Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	United States	Puerto Rico		Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Belize			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Costa Rica			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	El Salvador			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Guatemala			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Honduras			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Nicaragua			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Panama			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	French Guiana			Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	Guyana			Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	Suriname			Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	Venezuela			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Colombia			Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Ecuador		incl. Galapagos	Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Peru			Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.

Native
Northern America

SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Florida (s.)]
NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Baja California Sur]
SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Campeche, Chiapas, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, Yucatán, Revillagigedo]

Southern America

CARIBBEAN: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Trinidad and Tobago, United States [Puerto Rico]
CENTRAL AMERICA: Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador
NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela
WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA: Colombia, Ecuador (incl. Galapagos), Peru

Reference(s)

FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America. 203.
Mickel, J. T. & A. R. Smith. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88:1-1054.
Tryon, R. M. 1941. A revision of the genus Pteridium. Rhodora 43:1-67.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Vertebrate poisons	mammals		Marrero, E. et al. 2001. Pteridium aquilinum (bracken fern) toxicity in cattle in the humid Chaco of Tarija, Bolivia. Veterin. Human Toxicol. 43:156-158.

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=456011. Accessed 10 May 2026.