Silver fern

For other uses, see Silver fern (disambiguation).

Silver fern
Frond, showing silver underside
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Cyatheales
Family: Cyatheaceae
Genus: Alsophila
Species:
A. tricolor
Binomial name
Alsophila tricolor
(Colenso) R.M.Tryon[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Cyathea dealbata (G.Forst.) Sw.
  • Cyathea falciloba (Colenso) Domin
  • Cyathea tricolor Colenso
  • Hemitelia falciloba Colenso
  • Polypodium dealbatum G.Forst.

Alsophila tricolor, synonym Cyathea dealbata,[1] commonly known as the silver fern[2] or silver tree-fern,[3] or as ponga /ˈpɒŋə/ or punga /ˈpʌŋə/ (from Māori kaponga or ponga),[note 1] is a species of medium-sized tree fern, endemic to New Zealand. The fern is usually recognisable by the silver-white colour of the under-surface of mature fronds. It is a symbol commonly associated with the country both overseas and by New Zealanders themselves.[4]

Alsophila tricolor is the correct name for Cyathea dealbata in Alsophila because the epithet dealbata is preoccupied by Alsophila dealbata C.Presl (now a synonym of Sphaeropteris glauca).

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference CFLW was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Brownsey, Patrick (24 September 2007). "Ferns and lycophytes – Ferns and lycophytes in New Zealand". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  3. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  4. ^ "Government and nation – National animal and flower". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2010.


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