Found throughout NZ, but particularly in the North Island, need well drained soil under 1500m below sea level
A medium sized fern recognisable by the silver colour on the under side of the fronds
The Silver Fern has become a NZ iconic symbol
The Silver Fern can grow up to 10m with a thin furry type trunk with a dense crown out of which grown the fronds or new leaves (Koru), these are prized as a food by the Maori
Bark & Foliage
The tree appears to grow from the inside out
The old base of the fronds remain forming the bark and protecting the inner trunk
The trunk is narrow and furry
The fronds are soft to touch and extend out from the stem horizontally like fingers, hairy and scaly
The topside is a soft green and the underside is silver
Spores & Seeds
The seed pods grow on the underside of the leaves in patterns of 6, 8 or 10 ball like, black seeds called sori
When the spores are ready to activate the head splits open on one side and curves backwards and suddenly swings forward throwing out the spores like a catapult
Most spores are wasted but those that find a moist place can develop into heart shaped plants and begin a new life cycle
These develop both eggs and sperm and when the environment is right fertilisation takes place but the sperm must swim in search of eggs and fertilises the eggs which results in the new fern plant
Interesting Facts
Ferns are unlike other native trees and do not have a ‘cambium layer’ in its trunk instead the ‘pith’ becomes the bark of the tree and ensures the flow of sap from crown to roots just like any other plant
This unusual structure is never-the-less strong and flexible
The Koru symbol is inspires by the shape of un unfurling frond, is found extensively in Maori art, its circular shape conveys the idea of perpetual movement and its inward coil suggests a return to it point of origin
