The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Dicksonia lanata subsp. hispida

Etymology

Dicksonia: After James Dickson (1738-1822), British botanist and nuseryman
lanata: woolly
hispida: roughly hairy

Current Conservation Status

2018 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon

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

2012 - Not Threatened
2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Dicksonia lanata subsp. hispida (Colenso) Perrie et Brownsey

Family

Dicksoniaceae

Brief Description

Small tree fern with a short trunk and pale brown-stalked dark-green stiff leaves to 2m long inhabiting kauri forests. Trunk to 2m tall, sparsely covered by old leaves. Leaf stems covered in small hairs (lens needed). Sporangia in small capsules at the edge of fronds undersides.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Ferns

Synonyms

Dicksonia lanata var. hispida Colenso

Distribution

Endemic. 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.

Flowering

Not applicable - spore producing

Flower Colours

No Flowers

Fruiting

Not applicable - spore producing

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.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 130

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 17 Feb 2020