Summary ³

Cyathea dealbata, also known as the silver tree-fern or silver fern, or as ponga /ˈpɒŋə/ or punga /ˈpʌŋə/ (from Māori kaponga or ponga), is a species of medium-sized tree fern, endemic to New Zealand. It is a symbol commonly associated with the country both overseas and by New Zealanders themselves.

How to id ⁴

• Trunk with peg like stipe base
• Stipe covered in pale brown scales
• Fronds tripinnate, up to 4 m long, dead fronds falling
• Pinnae white below with curly hairs

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Brian Gratwicke, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/19731486@N07/4241953116
2. (c) David Hutchinson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by David Hutchinson
3. Adapted by Melanie Lapointe from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyathea_dealbata
4. (c) Melanie Lapointe, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• eFloras.org
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• World Flora Online

iNat Map