Norfolk Tree Fern
| Norfolk Tree Fern | ||||||||||||
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Norfolk Tree Fern ( Cyathea brownii ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Cyathea brownii | ||||||||||||
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The Norfolk tree fern ( Cyathea brownii ) is considered to be the largest of all tree ferns in the world. It comes from the Norfolk Island , where it reaches heights of up to 30 m. The long and wide double to triple pinnate fronds can reach lengths of up to 5 m. The trunk is long and, like the young fronds, heavily covered by brown to orange hair; it can become smooth over time with oval scars from fallen fronds. Cyathea brownii is named after the botanist Robert Brown (1773-1858).
cultivation
The Norfolk tree fern grows from spores , as a young plant very quickly, up to 30 cm per year and forms about one frond per month. He needs a neutral to slightly acidic soil rich in humus ; this must be moist, but slightly permeable. Waterlogging tolerate the plant bad. Cyathea brownii also needs a high level of humidity and moderate to much water and loves a bright location without midday sun. Fertilizer is hardly needed, there is more of a risk of over-fertilization, which can cause severe damage to the plant. The Norfolk tree fern can tolerate light frosts down to −4 ° C, but should be protected from heavy frost. In colder regions, this beautiful and unusual plant is usually kept in a greenhouse . It is easy to use and because of its rapid growth, it usually recovers quickly from damage. However, its size can also make the tree fern quite impractical.
Natural habitat
Cyathea brownii is at home in the subtropical rainforest on Norfolk Island. The daytime temperatures are around 23 ° C in the summer months and around 17 ° C in winter; the maximum temperatures are around 29 ° C, the lowest around 6 ° C. The relative humidity is consistently between 70 and 80 percent all year round; the annual precipitation approx. 1200 mm.
swell
- John E. Braggins, Mark F. Large: Tree Ferns . Timber Press, 2004, ISBN 0881926302
- Martin Rickard: The Plantfinders Guide To Garden Ferns . Timber Press, 2003, ISBN 0881925675
- Bureau of Meteorology, Australian Government