Lidgate's brake
Pteris lydgatei
Pteris lydgatei is a rare fern species in the Pteridoideae subfamily of the Pteridaceae. It is known by the common name Lydgate's brake and is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known from the islands of Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, and Maui.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Polypodiopsida
Order
Polypodiales
Family
Pteridaceae
Genus
Pteris
Lidgate's brake belongs to the family Pteridaceae, order Polypodiales, within the Polypodiopsida class.
Species Profile
Pteris lydgatei is a rare fern species in the Pteridoideae subfamily of the Pteridaceae. It is known by the common name Lydgate's brake and is endemic to Hawaii, where it is known from the islands of Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, and Maui. It was once thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in the 1990s. There are fewer than 40 individuals in the wild. This is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
Lidgate's brake is critically endangered due to severe habitat loss and degradation from invasive plant species, particularly in its native Hawaiian forest ecosystems. The species faces ongoing pressure from feral ungulates that damage its habitat and alter forest structure, while its extremely limited population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks.
Key Facts
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Lidgate's brake is critically endangered due to severe habitat loss and degradation from invasive plant species, particularly in its native Hawaiian forest ecosystems. The species faces ongoing pressure from feral ungulates that damage its habitat and alter forest structure, while its extremely limited population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks.
Extremely small population size
Habitat degradation from feral ungulates
Invasive plant species
Limited geographic range
Forest ecosystem alteration
Community Sightings
Report a sightingNo community sightings yet. Be the first to report!
Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Lidgate's brake (Pteris lydgatei). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/lidgates-brake