''Dicksonia'' is a genus of tree ferns in the

order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...

Cyatheales. It is regarded as related to '' Cyathea'', but is considered to retain more primitive traits, dating back at least to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record includes stems, pinnules, and

spore In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, f ...

s. The genus contains 20–25 species, distributed from Mexico to Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile, St. Helena, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. New Guinea has the greatest diversity, with five species. Species of ''Dicksonia'' found in cultivation include: *''D. antarctica'', soft tree fern *''D. fibrosa'', woolly tree fern *''D. squarrosa'', rough or slender tree fern The genus was first described by Charles Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle in 1788. The name honors James Dickson, a prominent nurseryman and botanist.''Dicksonia antarctica'' – the soft tree fern
Australian National Botanic Gardens
2008

Species

* '' Dicksonia antarctica'', soft tree fern, Tasmanian tree fern – Australia * '' Dicksonia arborescens'', St. Helena (type species) * ''

Dicksonia archboldii ''Dicksonia'' is a genus of tree ferns in the order Cyatheales. It is regarded as related to ''Cyathea'', but is considered to retain more primitive traits, dating back at least to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record includes ...

'', New Guinea * ''

Dicksonia baudouini ''Dicksonia'' is a genus of tree ferns in the order Cyatheales. It is regarded as related to ''Cyathea'', but is considered to retain more primitive traits, dating back at least to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record includes ...

'',

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

* ''

Dicksonia berteriana ''Dicksonia'' is a genus of tree ferns in the order Cyatheales. It is regarded as related to ''Cyathea'', but is considered to retain more primitive traits, dating back at least to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record includes ...

'', Juan Fernández Islands * ''

Dicksonia blumei ''Dicksonia'' is a genus of tree ferns in the order Cyatheales. It is regarded as related to ''Cyathea'', but is considered to retain more primitive traits, dating back at least to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record includes ...

'', Indonesia, Philippines * ''

Dicksonia brackenridgei ''Dicksonia'' is a genus of tree ferns in the order Cyatheales. It is regarded as related to ''Cyathea'', but is considered to retain more primitive traits, dating back at least to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record includes ...

'',

Fiji Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...

, Samoa * ''

Dicksonia externa ''Dicksonia'' is a genus of tree ferns in the order Cyatheales. It is regarded as related to ''Cyathea'', but is considered to retain more primitive traits, dating back at least to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record includes ...

'', Juan Fernández Islands * ''

Dicksonia fibrosa ''Dicksonia fibrosa'', the golden tree fern, whekī-ponga or kuripaka (in Māori) is a species of medium-sized tree fern native to New Zealand. ''D. fibrosa'' has a thick, soft and fibrous rusty brown trunk. It holds on to its dead leaves produ ...

'', woolly tree fern, kuripaka or wheki-ponga – New Zealand * ''

Dicksonia grandis ''Dicksonia'' is a genus of tree ferns in the order Cyatheales. It is regarded as related to ''Cyathea'', but is considered to retain more primitive traits, dating back at least to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record includes ...

'', New Guinea * ''

Dicksonia herbertii ''Dicksonia'' is a genus of tree ferns in the order Cyatheales. It is regarded as related to ''Cyathea'', but is considered to retain more primitive traits, dating back at least to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record includes ...

'', Northeastern Queensland, Australia * ''

Dicksonia hieronymi ''Dicksonia'' is a genus of tree ferns in the order Cyatheales. It is regarded as related to ''Cyathea'', but is considered to retain more primitive traits, dating back at least to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record includes ...

'', New Guinea * ''

Dicksonia lanata ''Dicksonia lanata'' is a fern endemic to New Zealand. Colloquial names include stumpy tree fern, tūākura and tūōkura. ''Dicksonia lanata'' can be easily distinguished from the other ''Dicksonia'' species indigenous to New Zealand by its l ...

'', Tuokuro. New Zealand * ''

Dicksonia lanigera ''Dicksonia'' is a genus of tree ferns in the order Cyatheales. It is regarded as related to ''Cyathea'', but is considered to retain more primitive traits, dating back at least to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record includes ...

'', New Guinea * ''

Dicksonia mollis ''Dicksonia'' is a genus of tree ferns in the order Cyatheales. It is regarded as related to ''Cyathea'', but is considered to retain more primitive traits, dating back at least to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record includes ...

'', Indonesia * '' Dicksonia sciurus'', New Guinea * ''

Dicksonia sellowiana ''Dicksonia sellowiana'', the xaxim, or samambaiaçu or imperial samambaiaçu, is an arborescent fern in the family Dicksoniaceae, native to the tropical Americas. Distribution The fern is native to Southern Mexico, Central America, and South A ...

'', xaxim, samambaiuçu (in Portuguese) – Southern Mexico through Central America and Northern South America to

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

and Uruguay * ''

Dicksonia squarrosa ''Dicksonia squarrosa'', the New Zealand tree fern, whekī or rough tree fern, is a common tree fern endemic to New Zealand. It has a slender black trunk that is usually surrounded by many dead brown fronds. Description This species has a fast ...

'', rough tree fern, slender tree fern, New Zealand tree fern, wheki – New Zealand * ''

Dicksonia steubelii ''Dicksonia'' is a genus of tree ferns in the order Cyatheales. It is regarded as related to '' Cyathea'', but is considered to retain more primitive traits, dating back at least to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record includes ...

'', Northern Peru * ''

Dicksonia thyrsopteroides ''Dicksonia thyrsopteroides'' Mett. is a species of tree ferns native to the island of New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New C ...

'',

* ''

Dicksonia youngiae ''Dicksonia youngiae'', common name bristly tree fern, is a fern that comes from cool, sheltered rainforests in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. It is found north of the Bellinger River, in New South Wales, and can be seen in the w ...

'', bristly tree fern – Australia

References

* Large, M.F. and J.E. Braggins ''Tree Ferns''. Timber Press, Inc. (2004). * Lobin, Wolfram. List of the American Dicksonia Species. Scientific Authority of Germany, Bonn 2001.

External links

Community: Care and propagation of Tree ferns
(German/English)
Fern Files: Dicksonia
Dicksoniaceae Fern genera Ferns of Africa Ferns of Oceania Ferns of the Americas Jurassic plants Extant Jurassic first appearances {{tree-stub