SafePlants

Tree Ferns: An Overview

Tree ferns, with their impressive size and unique structure, bring a touch of the primeval to gardens and landscapes. They are known for their trunk-like stems topped with a crown of spreading fronds, creating a dramatic and architectural statement.

Considerations for Pets

• Some species have scales or hairs on the stems and leaves.

Considerations for Children

• The rough tree fern has prickly hairs at the base of the fronds.

Common Names and Scientific Classification

• Scientific Name: The text mentions several species, including Dicksonia antarctica and Cyathea cooperi.
• Common Names: Soft Tree Fern, Man Fern, Australian Tree Fern, Tasmanian Tree Fern, and Woolly Tree Fern are all mentioned. Rough Tree Fern is also listed.

Morphology and Growth Habits

• Tree ferns possess trunk-like stems composed of rhizomes rather than true wood. These trunks are formed from the decaying remains of earlier growth.
• The trunks can vary in size, with some species reaching up to 15 meters in height. The growth rate is typically slow, around 3cm per year for trunk height increase.
• Fronds can be quite large, reaching up to 3 meters (10 feet) in length. Some species have scales or hairs on their stems and leaves.

Distribution and Habitat

• Cyathea cooperi, also known as the Australian tree-fern, is native to Australia.
• The text references mosses found on Dicksonia antarctica in Derreen Garden near Lauragh in South Kerry.

Quirky Facts

• The "trunk" of a tree fern is not a true woody trunk like that of seed plants. Instead, it's formed from rhizomes modified to grow vertically.
• The soft tree fern is unique in its ability to regrow from seemingly lifeless logs.
• Tree ferns do not branch, and their trunks are built up from persistent leaf bases and adventitious roots.
• The trunk of the Australian tree fern can spread as much as 6 feet in a year before growing upward into a single slender trunk.