Cyathea dealbata
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 Underside of silver fern frond
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| Cyathea dealbata (G. Forster) Swartz, 1801 |
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Cyathea dealbata (Silver Tree Fern or Silver Fern; Māori name Ponga) is a species of medium-sized tree fern endemic to New Zealand. The term ponga is used as a generic term for tree fern logs when used for landscaping purposes.[1]
This fern is known to grow to heights of 10 m or more (though it occasionally takes a rare creeping form). The crown is dense, and the fronds tend to be about 4 m long and have a silver-white colouration on the undersides. This distinctive silver colouration has made them useful for laying along tracks for night walking. The scales are a dark brown and are often twisted and glossy.
The silver fern occurs on the main islands of New Zealand east to the Chatham Islands, mostly in the subcanopy areas of drier forests and in open scrub. It is known to grow well in well-drained humus, and once established, it will tolerate dryer conditions. It does best when sheltered from winds and should be protected from frost. It does not grow under the dense canopy of mature forests.
[edit] Silver fern in culture
- The silver fern is also used as an emblem on the clothing and marketing of many sports teams; it is used most famously as the logo of the All Blacks New Zealand Rugby Union team.
- The Silver Ferns is the name of the New Zealand netball team, world champions in 2003 in Jamaica.
- The Silver fern is also used in politics - it features on the logos of Jim Anderton's Progressive Party and United Future New Zealand.
- The Silver Fern is also the name of a passenger train.
- Many alternative flags for New Zealand, such as the Silver fern flag, use the Silver fern.
[edit] Notes
- ^ In the Māori language ponga refers to tree ferns, especially of the genus Cyathea. In New Zealand English ponga is often pronounced punga.
[edit] References
- Braggins, John E. & Large, Mark F. 2004. Tree Ferns. Timber Press, Inc., pp. 120-121. ISBN 0-88192-630-2
- The International Plant Names Index: Cyathea dealbata
