Ferns and Fern
Allies in the Canberra Region
Dicksonia antarctica
- Soft Tree Fern
Dicksonia antarctica is by far the most common tree fern in the
region, accounting for over 95% of all tree ferns. It is very hardy
to frost and will tolerate drought quite well. It grows in great thickets
in the mountains gullies, usually along or in the creek itself, under
tall Eucalypt over canopy. Notice the convex shape of the fronds viewed
end-on. This is quite different from Cyathea australis, which
has a flat or slightly concave frond-top. This feature is a quick way
of distinguishing the two from a distance. The trunks of D. antarctica
can reach 3 or 4 metres (10 to 13 feet) in height, and in isolated cases
considerably more. The trunks are up to 40cm (16") across. Climbing
quietly up through groves of D. antarctica can quite often lead
you to the shy but exquisite Lyrebird.
This shows the "skirt" of dead fronds that hang down the trunks
of Dicksonias in the wild.
A close up of the pinnae. The pinnules are distinctly pointed compared
to those on Cyathea australis.
A close up of the indusia (which protect the spore casings) of D.
antarctica. In some plants they are twice as large as here (relative
to the pinnae).
 David
Nicholls
January 1998
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