hard treefern
Dicksonia squarrosa (G.Forst.) Sw.
Dicksonia squarrosa, known as the hard treefern, is a species of tree fern in the family Dicksoniaceae. Endemic to New Zealand, it is found on the Chatham Islands, as well as the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It was first described in 1801. The plant is characterized by a slender black trunk often encircled by dead brown fronds.
Description
Dicksonia squarrosa is a tree fern native to New Zealand. It is distinguished by its black, slender trunk, which is typically surrounded by a dense covering of dead fronds, giving it a rough appearance. The species is commonly referred to as the hard treefern and is also known by the Māori name whekī. It is a member of the Dicksoniaceae family and is part of the Dicksonia genus. The plant is widely distributed across the North and South Islands of New Zealand, as well as the Chatham Islands.
Other common names
hard treefernRough Tree Fern
Distribution
Chatham Is. · New Zealand North · New Zealand South
Synonyms
Balantium squarrosumDicksonia gracilisTrichomanes squarrosumDicksonia squarrosa var. gracilis
