Creeping tree fern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Creeping tree fern |
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| Illustration from The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage of H.M. Discovery Ships Erebus and Terror | |
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| Genus: |
Alsophila (plant)
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| Species: |
colensoi
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The Alsophila colensoi, also known as the creeping tree fern, mountain tree fern, or golden tree fern, is a special type of tree fern. It grows naturally in New Zealand, from the southern part of the North Island all the way down to Stewart Island. Unlike many tree ferns that grow tall, this one often has a trunk that lies flat on the ground, making it "creep."
It loves damp places in forests, especially in cooler, higher areas near the tree line. Its long fronds can reach about 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) or more.
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What is the Creeping Tree Fern?
The creeping tree fern is unique because its main stem, or trunk, usually grows along the ground instead of standing straight up. Sometimes, though, it might grow upright to about 1 meter (3 feet) tall. This fern often forms a thick patch of green, making it hard to see the trunk at all!
Its leaves, called Fronds, are quite large. They are "tripinnate," meaning they are divided into three main sections, and each of those sections is divided again. The main stem of the frond, called the rachis, and the stalk that connects it to the trunk, called the stipe, are thin and light brown. They are covered in small, brown scales.
How Does it Reproduce?
Like all ferns, the creeping tree fern reproduces using spores, not seeds. These spores grow in tiny clusters called sori. On the fertile fronds, you'll find these sori in two neat rows, one on each side of the midvein (the central line) of the small leaf parts called pinnules. These sori don't have a protective cover, which is called an indusium.
Where Does the Creeping Tree Fern Live?
This fern is native to New Zealand. It thrives in forests that are found in mountainous areas, from "submontane" (lower mountain slopes) to "montane" (higher mountain slopes). It especially likes spots that are very damp and cool, often close to where the trees stop growing and the open alpine areas begin.
Growing Your Own Creeping Tree Fern
If you wanted to grow a creeping tree fern, you'd need to give it the right conditions. It loves soil that is rich in humus (decayed plant material), which helps it get all the nutrients it needs. It also needs plenty of shade and a lot of moisture to stay healthy. Since it's a plant from the mountains, it does best in places that have cooler temperatures.
Who Was William Colenso?
The scientific name of this fern, colensoi, was given to honor a person named William Colenso (1811-1899). He was a missionary who traveled to New Zealand and became a very important botanist, someone who studies plants. Naming a plant after him was a way to remember his contributions to understanding New Zealand's amazing plant life.
