Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), sprouting from floor of a longleaf pine forest in The Nature Conservancy's Green Swamp Preserve of North Carolina.

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Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), sprouting from floor of a longleaf pine forest in The Nature Conservancy's Green Swamp Preserve of North Carolina. A recent controlled burn cleared out the undergrowth and, while blackening the tree trunks, did not harm them. Such a fire regimen helps preserve the natural state of a longleaf pine forest.

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Size: 5401px × 3605px
Photo credit: © Gerry Bishop / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: aquilinum, bracken, carolina, conservancy, fern, fire-resistant, forest, green, longleaf, nature, north, palustris, pine, pinus, preserve, pteridium, swamp, trees