Dicksonia arborescens

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wikipedia:How to read a taxobox
How to read a taxobox
St Helena Tree Fern
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pteridophyta
Class: Pteridopsida
Order: Cyatheales
Family: Dicksoniaceae
Genus: Dicksonia
Species: D. arborescens
Binomial name
Dicksonia arborescens
L'Hér.

The St Helena Tree Fern (Dicksonia arborescens) is a characteristic plant of the "tree fern thicket" vegetation of the highest parts of the central ridge of the island of St Helena.

It is important as a major component of a vegetation type that is one of the last remnants of the native vegetation. Many of the other endemic plants of this vegetation germinate as seedlings on the trunks of the tree fern, which thus acts a a nursery for the native flora.

The genus Dicksonia contains several species widely dispersed around the world, including the New Zealand tree fern, Dicksonia squarrosa.

[edit] See also

Flora of St Helena

[edit] References

  • Cronk, Q.C.B. (1995) The endemic Flora of St Helena. Anthony Nelson Ltd, Oswestry.