The tree ferns are arborescent (tree-like) ferns that grow with a trunk elevating the fronds above ground level, making them trees. Many extant tree ferns are members of the order Cyatheales, to which belong the families Cyatheaceae (scaly tree ferns), Dicksoniaceae, Metaxyaceae, and Cibotiaceae. It is estimated that Cyatheales originated in the early Jurassic,[1][2] and is the third group of ferns known to have given rise to tree-like forms. The others are the extinct Tempskya of uncertain position,[3] and Osmundales where the extinct Guaireaceae and some members of Osmundaceae also grew into trees. In addition there were the Psaroniaceae and Tietea in the Marattiales, which is the sister group to most living ferns including Cyatheales.
Other ferns which are also tree ferns, are Leptopteris and Todea in the family Osmundaceae, which can achieve short trunks under a metre tall. Fern species with short trunks in the genera Blechnum, Cystodium and Sadleria from the order Polypodiales, and smaller members of Cyatheales like Calochlaena, Cnemedaria, Culcita (mountains only tree fern), Lophosoria and Thyrsopteris are also considered tree ferns.
Tree ferns are found growing in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide, as well as cool to temperate rainforests in Australia, New Zealand and neighbouring regions (e.g. Lord Howe Island, etc.). Like all ferns, tree ferns reproduce by means of spores formed on the undersides of the fronds.
The fronds of tree ferns are usually very large and multiple-pinnate. Their trunk is actually a vertical and modified rhizome,[4] and woody tissue is absent. To add strength, there are deposits of lignin in the cell walls and the lower part of the stem is reinforced with thick, interlocking mats of tiny roots.[5] If the crown of Dicksonia antarctica (the most common species in gardens) is damaged, it will inevitably die because that is where all the new growth occurs. But other clump-forming tree fern species, such as D. squarrosa and D. youngiae, can regenerate from basal offsets or from "pups" emerging along the surviving trunk length. Tree ferns often fall over in the wild, yet manage to re-root from this new prostrate position and begin new vertical growth.
Usesedit
This section is largely based on an article in the out-of-copyright Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, which was produced in 1911. It should be brought up to date to reflect subsequent history or scholarship (including the references, if any). When you have completed the review, replace this notice with a simple note on this article's talk page.(May 2021)
Tree-ferns have been cultivated for their beauty alone; a few, however, were of some economic application, chiefly as sources of starch. These include the Sphaeropteris excelsa of Norfolk Island that was threatened with extinction for the sake of its sago-like pith, which was eaten by pigs. It is now widely cultivated as an ornamental tree, although there is only one small wild population on Norfolk Island.[6]Sphaeropteris medullaris (mamaku, black tree fern) also furnished a kind of sago to people living in New Zealand, Queensland and the Pacific islands. A Javanese species of Dicksonia (D. chrysotricha) furnishes silky hairs, which were once imported as a styptic, and the long silky or wooly hairs, abundant on the stem and frond-leaves in the various species of Cibotium have not only been put to a similar use, but in the Hawaiian Islands furnished wool for stuffing mattresses and cushions, which was formerly an article of export.[7]
Speciesedit
Transplanted Dicksonia antarctica tree ferns at Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, North Devon, England
It is not certain the exact number of species of tree ferns there are, but it may be close to 600-700 species.[8] Many species have become extinct in the last century as forest habitats have come under pressure from human intervention.[citation needed]
^Historical reconstruction of climatic and elevation preferences and the evolution of cloud forest-adapted tree ferns in Mesoamerica - NCBI
^Chronogram of the Cyatheaceae and other tree fern lineages
^Martínez, Leandro C.A.; Olivo, Mariana S. (August 2015). "Tempskya in the Valanginian of South America (Mulichinco Formation, Neuquén Basin, Argentina) — Systematics, palaeoclimatology and palaeoecology". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 219: 116–131. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2015.04.002. hdl:11336/49538.
^Trends and concepts in fern classification - NCBI
^"Norfolk Island Plants". Norfolk Island National Park. Australian Government Parks Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
^One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Tree-Fern". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 235.
^McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology. Vol. 18 (11th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. 2012. p. 642. ISBN978-0071792738. OCLC 785808931.
External linksedit
Flora Technical Note No. 5: Identification and management of tree ferns from Tasmania Forest Practices Authority
Tree Fern from the San Diego Zoo website
January 19, 2024
tree, fern, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, october, 2017, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Tree fern news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message The tree ferns are arborescent tree like ferns that grow with a trunk elevating the fronds above ground level making them trees Many extant tree ferns are members of the order Cyatheales to which belong the families Cyatheaceae scaly tree ferns Dicksoniaceae Metaxyaceae and Cibotiaceae It is estimated that Cyatheales originated in the early Jurassic 1 2 and is the third group of ferns known to have given rise to tree like forms The others are the extinct Tempskya of uncertain position 3 and Osmundales where the extinct Guaireaceae and some members of Osmundaceae also grew into trees In addition there were the Psaroniaceae and Tietea in the Marattiales which is the sister group to most living ferns including Cyatheales A tree fern near Belles DominicaAlsophila sp tree ferns overlooking a valley in Misamis Oriental PhilippinesOther ferns which are also tree ferns are Leptopteris and Todea in the family Osmundaceae which can achieve short trunks under a metre tall Fern species with short trunks in the genera Blechnum Cystodium and Sadleria from the order Polypodiales and smaller members of Cyatheales like Calochlaena Cnemedaria Culcita mountains only tree fern Lophosoria and Thyrsopteris are also considered tree ferns Contents 1 Range 2 Description 3 Uses 4 Species 5 References 6 External linksRange editTree ferns are found growing in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide as well as cool to temperate rainforests in Australia New Zealand and neighbouring regions e g Lord Howe Island etc Like all ferns tree ferns reproduce by means of spores formed on the undersides of the fronds Description edit nbsp Reconstruction of Tempskya an extinct fern from the CretaceousThe fronds of tree ferns are usually very large and multiple pinnate Their trunk is actually a vertical and modified rhizome 4 and woody tissue is absent To add strength there are deposits of lignin in the cell walls and the lower part of the stem is reinforced with thick interlocking mats of tiny roots 5 If the crown of Dicksonia antarctica the most common species in gardens is damaged it will inevitably die because that is where all the new growth occurs But other clump forming tree fern species such as D squarrosa and D youngiae can regenerate from basal offsets or from pups emerging along the surviving trunk length Tree ferns often fall over in the wild yet manage to re root from this new prostrate position and begin new vertical growth Uses editThis section is largely based on an article in the out of copyright Encyclopaedia Britannica Eleventh Edition which was produced in 1911 It should be brought up to date to reflect subsequent history or scholarship including the references if any When you have completed the review replace this notice with a simple note on this article s talk page May 2021 Tree ferns have been cultivated for their beauty alone a few however were of some economic application chiefly as sources of starch These include the Sphaeropteris excelsa of Norfolk Island that was threatened with extinction for the sake of its sago like pith which was eaten by pigs It is now widely cultivated as an ornamental tree although there is only one small wild population on Norfolk Island 6 Sphaeropteris medullaris mamaku black tree fern also furnished a kind of sago to people living in New Zealand Queensland and the Pacific islands A Javanese species of Dicksonia D chrysotricha furnishes silky hairs which were once imported as a styptic and the long silky or wooly hairs abundant on the stem and frond leaves in the various species of Cibotium have not only been put to a similar use but in the Hawaiian Islands furnished wool for stuffing mattresses and cushions which was formerly an article of export 7 Species edit nbsp Transplanted Dicksonia antarctica tree ferns at Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park North Devon EnglandIt is not certain the exact number of species of tree ferns there are but it may be close to 600 700 species 8 Many species have become extinct in the last century as forest habitats have come under pressure from human intervention citation needed Lophosoria tropical America 1 species Metaxya tropical America 1 species Sphaeropteris tropical America India Southeast Asia to New Zealand the Marquesas and Pitcairn Island about 120 species Alsophila pantropic area about 230 species Nephelea tropical America about 30 species Trichipteris tropical America about 90 species Cyathea tropical America Australasia about 110 species Cnemidaria tropical America about 40 species Dicksonia tropics and southern subtropics in Island Southeast Asia Australasia America Hawaii St Helena about 25 species Cystodium Island Southeast Asia 1 species Thyrsopteris Juan Fernandez Islands 1 species Culcita tropical America Macaronesia Iberian Peninsula 2 species Cibotium Southeast Asia Hawaii Central America about 12 species References edit Historical reconstruction of climatic and elevation preferences and the evolution of cloud forest adapted tree ferns in Mesoamerica NCBI Chronogram of the Cyatheaceae and other tree fern lineages Martinez Leandro C A Olivo Mariana S August 2015 Tempskya in the Valanginian of South America Mulichinco Formation Neuquen Basin Argentina Systematics palaeoclimatology and palaeoecology Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 219 116 131 doi 10 1016 j revpalbo 2015 04 002 hdl 11336 49538 Trends and concepts in fern classification NCBI Stem The University of Auckland Norfolk Island Plants Norfolk Island National Park Australian Government Parks Australia Retrieved 6 April 2023 nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Tree Fern Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 27 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 235 McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Science amp Technology Vol 18 11th ed New York McGraw Hill 2012 p 642 ISBN 978 0071792738 OCLC 785808931 External links editFlora Technical Note No 5 Identification and management of tree ferns from Tasmania Forest Practices Authority Tree Fern from the San Diego Zoo website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tree fern amp oldid 1186767004, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
