New Zealand sporting symbol - the Silver Fern - is (in its plant form) quite common around here.
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| Underside |
It's Maori name is Ponga (not to be confused with Punga which just means tree ferns generally).
This article is very well written advice on how to identify our tree ferns (some of which can grow 20m tall). Around here there are some dense Punga forests which probably represent a transition stage following the logging of the beech forest over 100 years ago, a period of farming and now a return to regenerating native 'bush'.
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| Top side of silver fern |
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| Silver fern - Ponga |
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| Mamaku |
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| Katote |
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| Mamaku |
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| Katote |
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| Wheki (buds on the trunk) |
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| Frond stems on Mamaku |
They are so exotic. Prehistoric looking and other-worldly.
ReplyDeleteI only know the Dicksonia Antarctica or Man Fern. Great photos and ferns information.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know abouf pungas and pongas. I associate the tree fern with NZ bush, familiar sounds and smells.
ReplyDeleteLots of tree ferns in The Dandenongs just up the road from us. I know there are ‘rough’ ones and ‘soft’ ones but don’t and ask me their proper names though.
ReplyDeleteI recall there being tree ferns in some forests I walked through in the Baltic States. Pissibly introduced - who knows what the hand of man has done. Dave Northsider mentioned rhem being used as return ballast on sailing ships. I can't imagine them being heavy enough for that but who knows now.
DeleteMaybe I saw Osmunda regalis
DeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteGlorious!!!!! YAM xx
They are an extraordinary sight, magical and alien. I like the fiddleheads.
ReplyDeleteKoru - used as a symbol for new life, growrh, and harmony
DeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteStunning and as JayCee noted- Other worldly. Lady fern grow heartily here but never like THAT! Astonishing.
ReplyDeleteSome magnificent specimens. We see the symbol on the all blacks jumpers when they come to play rugby. I’m a Victorian so we are more interested in Aussie rules. But when the all blacks come we all unite to barrack for Australia. We just love beating the kiwis lol
ReplyDeleteI love how Aotearoa is literally covered with these
ReplyDeleteWow!!! The Silver Fern really caught my eye, but all of these are beautiful!!
ReplyDelete