Dicksonia lanata subsp. hispida
Common name
stumpy tree fern
Synonyms
Dicksonia lanata var. hispida Colenso
Family
Dicksoniaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Ferns
Chromosome number
2n = 130
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley. Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Brief description
Small tree fern with a short trunk and pale brown-stalked dark-green stiff leaves to 2 m long inhabiting kauri forests. Trunk to 2 m tall, sparsely covered by old leaves. Leaf stems covered in small hairs (lens needed). Sporangia in small capsules at the edge of fronds undersides.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: North Island (Te Paki south to the Bombay Hills and Tararu Valley, Coromandel Peninsula).
Habitat
Virtually confined to kauri (Agathis australis) forest where it is often the characteristic understorey fern, growing with Astelia trinervia and Gahnia xanthocarpa. Also occurs in cloud forest in some of the western ranges of Northland.
Similar taxa
Dicksonia lanata subsp. lanata from which it is most easily distinguished by the presence of a small trunk which may be up to 2 m tall. However, the fronds are also usually dark green rather than glaucous green. There are other minor cryptic characters which also separate the two varieties.
Propagation technique
Easy from spores. Can be grown from rooted pieces but rather slow. Prefers a deep, cool soil enriched with leaf litter. Slow to establish.
Etymology
dicksonia: After James Dickson (1738-1822), British botanist and nuseryman
lanata: Woolly
hispida: Roughly hairy
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Notes on taxonomy
Dicksonia lanata subsp. hispida is probably worthy of species rank. In the upper Tararu Valley, Coromandel Peninsula both subspecies are virtually sympatric.