Pteris vittata, the Chinese brake,[4]Chinese ladder brake,[4] or simply ladder brake,[4] is a
fern species in the
Pteridoideae subfamily of the
Pteridaceae.[5] It is indigenous to Asia, southern Europe, tropical Africa, and Australia.[4] The
type specimen was collected in China by
Pehr Osbeck.[2]
Pteris vittata is often associated with
limestone habitats. It may be seen growing on concrete structures and cracks, in buildings in the central business district and suburbs of Sydney.[6][7] It is an
introduced species in California,
Texas, and the Southeastern United States.[8]
A remnant population exists in the Italian peninsula, in
Sicily, Calabria and
Campania.[9]
Pinna basal shape (underside) of P. vittata from Antalya
Pinna basal shape (upperside) of P. vittata from Antalya
Young P. vittata from Antalya
Unfurling frond tip of P. vittata from Antalya
Unfurling fronds of P. vittata from Antalya
Suggested reading
Cong Tu and Lena Q. Ma; Effects of Arsenic Concentrations and Forms on Arsenic Uptake by the Hyperaccumulator Ladder Brake, Journal of Environmental Quality
doi:
10.2134/jeq2002.6410 Vol. 31 No. 2, p. 641-647 (
résumé)