Dicksonia fibrosa

Dicksonia fibrosa
Dicksonia fibrosa, Berne Botanical Garden, Switzerland
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pteridophyta
Class: Pteridopsida
Order: Cyatheales
Family: Dicksoniaceae
Genus: Dicksonia
Species: D. fibrosa
Binomial name
Dicksonia fibrosa
Colenso

Dicksonia fibrosa (common names golden tree fern, and whekī-ponga or kuripaka in Māori) is a species of medium-sized tree fern native to New Zealand.

D. fibrosa has a thick, soft and fibrous rusty brown trunk. It holds on to its dead leaves producing a distinctive pale brown skirt, distinguishing it from the related Dicksonia squarrosa.[1] A slow-growing plant, similar to Dicksonia antarctica,[2] D. fibrosa can reach a height of 6 metres (20 ft). It requires winter protection in any area that is subject to winter frosts. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3]

Distribution

D. fibrosa can be found in the South Island, Stewart and Chatham Islands; also in the North Island, but is uncommon north of the Waikato River and Coromandel Peninsula. [4]

References

  1. Andrew Crowe (1997). A Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Native Ferns. Auckland, New Zealand: Penguin Books. p. 11.
  2. "Dicksonia antarctica comparison".
  3. "RHS Plant Selector - Dicksonia fibrosa". Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  4. "Dicksonia fibrosa details". nzpcn.org.nz. New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
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