wheki

dicksonia squarrosa (nz tree fern/Rough Tree Fern/ brown tree fern)

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koru

Grows to 7m

Slender trunk covered with black peg-like fallen fronds. No skirt of dead fronds. Very common.

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The fronds are up to 3 m long and they are very harsh. The stems on the fronds are also very rough. The top side of the fronds are dark green while underneath they are paler. Dead leaves are an orange-brown colour. Technically Ponga is the Maori word for all tree ferns, but it is most commonly applied to the d.squarrosa, as this is the fern from which we get ponga logs. The fronds are smaller than the Mamaku, but have a similar horizontal arching habit, which gives an umbrella like appearance. This tree fern produces new fronds right throughout the year, so it always has a lush, healthy look.

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