Ptisana salicina

Ptisana salicina
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Marattiales
Family: Marattiaceae
Genus: Ptisana
Species:
P. salicina
Binomial name
Ptisana salicina
Synonyms[1]
  • Marattia salicina Sm.
  • Marattia elegans Endl.
  • Marattia calliodous de Vriese
  • Marattia fraxinea var. salicina (Sm.) Domin
  • Marattia stokesii E.D.Br.
  • Marattia cincta Copel.
  • Marattia grantii Copel.

Ptisana salicina, or king fern, is a species of fern native to Norfolk Island, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Large and robust with a distinctive tropical appearance, it has fronds up to 5 metres (16 feet +/-) tall that arise from a starchy base that was a traditional food for the Maori.[2] It has several other common names including para, tawhiti-para, and horseshoe fern.

  1. ^ "Ptisana salicina (Sm.) Murdock". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Māori Plant Use Database Plant Use Details of Marattia salicina". maoriplantuse.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2021-12-30.