Tree fern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tree fern (Cyatheales) |
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| Dicksonia antarctica | |
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Polypodiopsida/Pteridopsida
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Cyatheales
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Tree ferns are a special group of ferns that look like trees. They can grow very tall, sometimes up to 20 meters (about 65 feet) high! Unlike most ferns you might see, these have a strong, upright trunk. Their big leaves, called fronds, grow in a crown at the top of the trunk.
Tree ferns belong to a larger group of ferns called the Cyatheales. Scientists have studied their DNA and found that all tree ferns are closely related. Even though they all look like trees, this tree-like shape has actually developed many times in different types of ferns.
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Where Tree Ferns Live
Tree ferns grow in warm, wet places around the world. You can find them in tropical and subtropical areas. They also live in temperate rainforests, especially in places like Australia, New Zealand, and other islands nearby. A few types, like Culcita, can even be found in southern Europe.
How Tree Ferns Grow
The fronds of tree ferns are usually very large and divided many times, almost like a feather. When new fronds start to grow, they look like tight coils, similar to a snail's shell. As they get bigger, these coils slowly uncurl until the frond is fully open.
One cool thing about tree ferns is how their trunks are made. Unlike flowering plants (like oak trees) that grow new woody tissue each year, tree ferns don't. Instead, their trunk is supported by a thick, strong mass of roots. This root mass gets bigger and stronger as the tree fern grows taller.
How Tree Ferns Reproduce
Like all ferns, tree ferns do not make flowers or seeds. Instead, they reproduce using tiny spores. These spores are made in small cases called sporangia, which are usually found on the underside of their fronds. When the spores are ready, they are released and can grow into new fern plants if they land in a good spot.
How Many Tree Fern Species Are There?
It's a bit tricky to know exactly how many different kinds of tree ferns there are, but scientists think there are about a thousand species. New types are still being found, especially in places like New Guinea, when botanists explore new areas. Sadly, many tree fern species have probably disappeared in the last hundred years because their forest homes have been cut down by people.
Images for kids
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Transplanted Dicksonia antarctica tree ferns at Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, North Devon, England
See also
In Spanish: Helecho arbóreo para niños
