The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Cyathea cunninghamii

Etymology

Cyathea: From the Greek kyatheion 'little cup', referring to the shape of the indusium
cunninghamii: Named after Allan Cunningham (1791 – 1839) who was an English botanist and explorer, primarily known for his travels to Australia (New South Wales) and New Zealand to collect plants. Author of Florae Insularum Novae Zelandiae Precursor, 1837-40 (Introduction to the flora of New Zealand).

Common Name(s)

gully tree fern, slender tree fern, ponga

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Cyathea cunninghamii Hook.f.

Family

Cyatheaceae

Brief Description

Tall tree fern with green-stalked soft leaves to 3m long. Trunk to 20m tall, slender, old leaves fall off leaving just the base. Leaf stems covered in small red and white star-shaped hairs, star-tipped scales and pointed scales (lens needed). Sporangia arranged in small half capsules underneath leaves.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

CYACUN

Structural Class

Ferns

Synonyms

Alsophila cunninghamii (Hook.f.) R.M.Tryon

Distribution

Indigenous. New Zealand: North, South and Chatham Islands (mainly western from Te Paki (Unuwhao Bush) south to Wellington, and along the north-west and western side of the South Island). Also Australia (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania).

Habitat

Coastal, lowland to montane in wet forests - especially along riversides, in gullies and in valley heads. An especially prominent species in karst country where it often fringes dolines and cave entrances.

Features

Trunks to 20 m tall, 50-150(-450) mm diameter, usually solitary, rarely bifurcated near apex, slender, bearing dark brown oval stipe scars and toward the apex dark brown, appressed stipe stubs. Stipes slender, adaxially golden-brown to yellow, abaxially black-brown, rugose, bearing scales, scales variable, up to 35 × 1-3 mm, with entire, fragile margins devoid of spines, apex terminated by 1 mm long apical seta; some scales hyaline, chartaceous, dull or glossy, dark golden-brown, others distinctly thicker, dark brown, lustrous. Fronds to 3 m long, held horizontally with distal portion slightly decurved with the apex distinctly upturned; 3-4-pinnate, soft, adaxially dark green to yellow-green, abaxially paler; dead fronds persistent only on immature plants, otherwise dehiscing to leave a short stipe base stub which soon decays leaving a small oval stipe scar. Longest primary pinnae 350-600 × 15-20(-30) mm wide, borne in the middle of the frond with pinnae either side gradually decreasing in length toward distal and proximal portions of stipe; lobes widely spaced; most basal 1-2 pairs free, others connected by narrow wing, largest lobes deeply lobulate; under surfaces bearing red and white stellate hairs and scales ending in single or stellate spines. Sori 1 per lobule; indusium cucullate, completely investing young sorus; paraphyses scarce, short, apical on receptacle; spores golden yellow to golden brown when fresh. Description adapted from Bostock (1998) and Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth (2000) and based on measurements and notes made from fresh material.

Similar Taxa

Closely related to Cyathea kermadecensis which is endemic to Raoul Island (Kermadec Island group) where Cyathea cunninghamii is not present. In New Zealand proper Cyathea cunninghamii is most often confused with mamaku (Cyathea medullaris) with which it often grows. Cyathea medullaris differs by its stouter trunk covered in deep hexagonal stipe scars and by the stipe and lamina scales which bear numerous marginal spines which are consistently coloured dark, lustrous black, the fronds of C. medullaris tend to be arching with the apices decurved (never horizontal with a slightly decurved distal portion whose final apex is upturned), the indusia of mature C. medullaris sporangia is never cucullate and completely covers the sorus

Flowering

N.A.

Flower Colours

No Flowers

Fruiting

N.A.

Propagation Technique

Easily cultivated provided it is planted in a deep, permanently moist (not waterlogged) soil, and in a semi-shaded site where it can grow up into the light. Plants respond well to regular applications of lime.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 138

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 30 Dec 2014