Rough tree fern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rough tree fern |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Alsophila (plant)
|
| Species: |
australis
|
The rough tree fern, known scientifically as Alsophila australis (or sometimes Cyathea australis), is a tall and impressive tree fern. It grows naturally in southeastern Queensland, New South Wales, and southern Victoria in Australia. You can also find it in Tasmania and on Norfolk Island.
Indigenous Australian people had different names for this fern. In Illawarra, they called it beeow-wang. At Corranderrk Station in Victoria, it was known as pooeet, and in Queensland, nanga-nanga.
Contents
About the Rough Tree Fern
Naming the Plant
The rough tree fern was first described in 1810 by a botanist named Robert Brown. He found a sample of the plant on King Island in Bass Strait, off the coast of Tasmania.
The scientific name Alsophila australis means "southern Alsophila". The word australis comes from Latin and means "southern". This refers to where the plant was first found.
Different Kinds of Rough Tree Ferns
Alsophila australis can look a bit different depending on where it grows. For example, the tree ferns found on Norfolk Island are usually bigger and stronger. Scientists are still studying if these differences mean they are a separate species or just a different type of the same plant.
What Does It Look Like?
The rough tree fern has a very thick, straight trunk that usually grows up to 12 meters (about 40 feet) tall. Some have even been seen reaching 20 meters (about 65 feet) in Queensland, Australia.
Its large leaves, called fronds, can be up to 4 meters (13 feet) long, and sometimes even 6 meters (20 feet). These fronds form a unique crown at the top of the trunk. They are dark green on top and a lighter green underneath. The trunk also has special roots, bumps, and hair-like parts.
In southern Australia, these ferns often lose their fronds by the end of winter. A special feature of this fern is that the bases of the old fronds often stay attached to the trunk for a long time after they have dried up. These bases are covered with scales and blunt spines near the bottom. The scales can be shiny brown or two-colored (pale and brown) and are often twisted.
Tiny Spores and How They Grow
The rough tree fern reproduces using tiny spores. These spores are found in small, round clusters called sori. These sori are located on the underside of the fertile frond parts. While there isn't a true protective cover for the sori, small scales might surround them.
Why This Fern Is Important
In its mountain homes, the rough tree fern plays a key role in nature. It provides a nesting place for a native bee species called Exoneura robusta, also known as the reed bee. These bees almost always build their nests inside the soft center of dead Alsophila australis fronds.
These reed bees are very important for pollinating other plants in southeastern Australia. This shows how the rough tree fern helps many other plants in its environment to grow and thrive.
Traditional Uses
Long ago, Indigenous Australians used parts of the rough tree fern as food. In 1889, Joseph Maiden wrote that the soft inside part of the trunk was full of starch. People would eat it raw or roasted. This whitish substance was found in the middle of the tree, from the bottom to the top. When boiled, it was said to taste a bit like a turnip.
Growing Rough Tree Ferns
The rough tree fern is a strong plant that can handle salty winds. It's a popular tree fern for cooler climates and can grow in many different types of weather and soil. You can find it growing in moist, shady forests, both near the coast and in mountains, up to 1280 meters (about 4200 feet) high. It often grows alongside another type of fern called the soft tree fern.
This fern is quite tough and is often used in gardens and in pots. As long as it gets enough moisture, it can handle frost and even full sun, or shade in warmer areas. Even though it's well-known in Australia, it's not as common to see it grown in other parts of the world.
Spotting the Difference
In the plant growing business, many plants sold as Alsophila australis are actually a different species called Sphaeropteris cooperi. There has been a lot of confusion between the two, especially in the United States.
However, these two species are quite different. Alsophila australis has a relatively thick trunk and many fronds that grow close together at the same time. Its trunk also grows taller more slowly. In contrast, Sphaeropteris cooperi grows faster with fewer fronds each year. It also has a much narrower trunk, and its frond bases stay closer to the trunk before arching outwards.
See also
In Spanish: Cyathea australis para niños
