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NZ Plants


Dicksonia fibrosa - wheki-ponga, kuripaka

Family: Dicksoniaceae

Dicksonia fibrosa forms very stout trunks thickly covered by interwoven red-brown roots. Fronds are harsh to the touch, short-stalked, narrow and held erect. Dead fronds are persistent forming a dense skirt around the trunk.
An endemic species found throughout New Zealand.
 

Vegetative characteristics

Fertile frond and sporangia

Plant form: a stout trunk up to 6 m with fronds up to 3 m in length

Frond appearance: leaflets with inrolled margins

Frond stalk, midrib: hairs

Sporangium location: on lower frond surface

Frond shape: narrow-elliptic

Sporangium position: leaflet margin

Frond blade: 3-4 pinnate (divided 3-4 x into leaflets or pinnae)

Sporangia distribution: in groups (sori)

Frond surface: harsh, leathery

Sorus shape: circular

Leaflets: oblong, pointed to rounded

Sorus covering:  reflexed margin and indusium