Dicksonia

Dicksonia is a genus of tree ferns in the order Cyatheales. It is regarded as related to Cyathea, but is considered more primitive, dating back at least to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record includes stems, pinnules, and spores.

The genus contains 20-25 species, distributed from Mexico to Uruguay and Chile, St. Helena, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. New Guinea has the greatest diversity, with five species.

The most widely cultivated species of Dicksonia is the Soft Tree Fern (D. Antarctica).

The genus was first described by Charles Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle in 1788. The name honors James Dickson, a prominent nurseryman and botanist.

Species

Dicksonia antarctica, Soft Tree Fern, Tasmanian Tree Fern. Australia.
Dicksonia arborescens, St. Helena
Dicksonia archboldii, New Guinea
Dicksonia baudouini, New Caledonia
Dicksonia berteriana, Juan Fernandez Islands
Dicksonia blumei, Indonesia, Philippines
Dicksonia brackenridgei, Fiji, Samoa
Dicksonia externa, Juan Fernandez Islands
Dicksonia fibrosa, Woolly Tree Fern, Kuripaka or Wheki-ponga. New Zealand.
Dicksonia grandis, New Guinea
Dicksonia herbertii, Northeastern Queensland, Australia
Dicksonia hieronymi, New Guinea.
Dicksonia lanata, Tuokuro. New Zealand.
Dicksonia lanigera, New Guinea.
Dicksonia mollis, Indonesia.
Dicksonia sciurus, New Guinea.
Dicksonia sellowiana, Xaxim, Samambaiuçu (in Portuguese). Southern Mexico through Central America and Northern South America to Bolivia and Uruguay.
Dicksonia squarrosa, New Zealand Tree Fern, Slender Tree Fern, Rough Tree Fern, Wheki. New Zealand.
Dicksonia steubelii, Northern Peru.
Dicksonia thyrsopteroides, New Caledonia.
Dicksonia youngiae, Bristly Tree Fern. Australia.

References

Large, M.F. and J.E. Braggins Tree Ferns. Timber Press, Inc. (2004).
Lobin, Wolfram. List of the American Dicksonia Species. Scientific Authority of Germany, Bonn 2001.