Silver fern
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| Silver Fern | |
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| Underside of silver fern frond | |
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| Species: | C. dealbata
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| Binomial name | |
| Cyathea dealbata (G. Forst.) Swartz
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sam The Silver fern (Cyathea dealbata) is a species of medium-sized tree fern endemic to New Zealand. Silver fern is the commonly used name for what the Maori call Punga or Ponga. The term Punga is used a generic term for tree fern logs when used for landscaping purposes. The Silver fern is the fern which is most commonly referred to as a "ponga".
This fern is known to grow to heights of 10 m or more (though it occasionally takes a rare creeping form). The crown is dense, and the fronds tend to be about 4 m long and have a silver-white colouration on the undersides. This distinctive silver colouration has made them useful for laying along tracks for night walking. The scales are a dark brown and are often twisted and glossy.
The silver fern occurs on the main island of New Zealand east to the Chatham Islands, mostly in the subcanopy areas of drier forests and in open scrub. It is known to grow well in well-drained humus, and once established, it will tolerate dryer conditions. It does best when sheltered from winds and should be protected from frost.
Silver fern in culture
The silver fern is also used as an emblem on the clothing and marketing of many sports teams; it is used most famously as the logo of the All Blacks New Zealand Rugby Union team.
The Silver Ferns is the name of the New Zealand netball team, world champions in 2003 in Jamaica.
The Silver fern is also used in politics - it features on the logos of Jim Anderton's Progressive Party and United Future New Zealand.
The Silver Fern is also the name of an express passenger train.
The koru symbol found in Maori art is inspired by the shape of a newborn punga frond.
References
- Braggins , John E. and Large, Mark F. Tree Ferns. Timber Press (2004). ISBN 0881926302