Dicksonia antarctica

{{Short description|Species of fern}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Use Australian English|date=November 2025}} {{Speciesbox |fossil_range = Early Pleistocene-Recent, {{Fossil range|2.6|0}}{{R|JORDAN}} |image = Dicksonia antarctica in Nunniong, Australia.jpg |image_caption = Gippsland, Australia |genus = Dicksonia |species = antarctica |authority = Labill.{{R|APNI|POWO}} |synonyms = *''Balantium antarcticum'' {{small|C.Presl}} *''Cibotium billardierei'' {{small|Kaulf.}} *''Dicksonia billardierei'' {{small|F.Muell.}} |synonyms_ref = {{R|APNI|POWO}} |range_map = Dicksonia antarctica distribution map.png }}

'''''Dicksonia antarctica''''', commonly known as the '''soft tree fern''', is a species of fern native to eastern Australia, ranging from south-east Queensland to Tasmania. It is commonly grown as an ornamental both in Australia and elsewhere.

==Description== ===Stem=== ''Dicksonia antarctica'' usually grows to about {{cvt|5|m}} with a 'trunk' about {{cvt|30|cm}} diameter, but in rare instances it may reach up to {{cvt|15|m}} tall and {{cvt|2|m}} thick.{{R|PLANTNET|JONES}} The 'trunk' – in ferns correctly known as a caudex ({{Plural abbr|caudices}}) – consists of a soft core of pith surrounded by vascular bundles and a much harder ring of tissue that provides support to the plant. Externally the caudex is densely covered in matted brown fibrous roots and the remnant bases of older fronds.{{R|FOA|VICFLORA}}{{R|LARGE|p=17}} The plant usually has a single stem, but specimens have been recorded with as many as six crowns.{{R|VICFLORA}}

===Foliage=== A large funnel-shaped crown is formed by the numerous fronds, and it has been suggested that this structure may collect rain for the plant.{{R|FOA|HUNT}} The fronds may reach up to {{cvt|4|m}} in length and are attached to the trunk with a stout {{cvt|30|cm|adj=on}} stipe (the stem of a fern frond). The stipes are smooth except for the base where it is covered in long brown hairs. The fronds are tripinnate, somewhat stiff and leathery, dark green above and paler below and broadest at the midpoint. Spores are produced in sori (clusters of spore-producing structures) on the underside of the fronds. There is one sorus per lobe, each about {{cvt|1|mm|2}} diameter.{{R|PLANTNET|FOA|VICFLORA}}

==Distribution and habitat== The natural range of this fern stretches from the Bunya Mountains in southeast Queensland, southwards through the near-coastal areas of New South Wales and Victoria into Tasmania.{{R|AVH}} At one time it also occurred in South Australia, but is probably extinct in the wild in that state.{{R|FOA|VICFLORA}} It has been introduced into Great Britain, Ireland, Madeira, the Azores and South Africa.{{R|POWO}}{{R|LARGE|p=285}}

It grows in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest with high rainfall, especially in sheltered gullies and beside creeks, and under the right conditions it can dominate large areas.{{R|JONES|PLANTNET|VICFLORA}} The altitudinal range is from close to sea level up to about {{cvt|1000|m}}.{{R|FOA}}

The species is well adapted to bushfires, being able to survive in both the shade of a forest as well as the exposed situation after a fire. The trunk is fire resistant, and the crown will regrow if it is burnt.{{R|HUNT}}

==Taxonomy== thumb|Illustration from Labillardiere's book

''Dicksonia antarctica'' was first described by French biologist and naturalist Jacques Labillardière, based on material he collected on a voyage to Australia, New Zealand and the East Indies between 1791 and 1794. At one point in that journey his plant collection was confiscated, and it was only through the intervention of his friend Joseph Banks that it was returned to him and he was allowed to take it back to France.{{R|DUYKER|KANTVILAS}} He published the description in volume two of his book ''Novæ Hollandiæ plantarum specimen'' in 1806.{{R|POWO|LABILL}}

Since Labilladiere's publication, the plant has been described under three other names — once each by Carl Borivoj Presl (as ''Balantium antarcticum''),{{R|PRESL}} Georg Friedrich Kaulfuss (as ''Cibotium billardierei''),{{R|KAULF}} and Ferdinand von Mueller (as ''Dicksonia billardierei'').{{R|MUELL}} All three of these names have now been synonymised under Labilladiere's original name.{{R|POWO}}

===Etymology=== The genus name ''Dicksonia'' is in honour of English botanist James Dickson.{{R|FOAa}} The species epithet ''antarctica'' is a reference to the southern distribution of the fern.

==Ecology== Possums may sleep in the crown; they may also eat the young croziers as they uncurl, as do parrots.{{R|JONES}} Crimson rosellas (''Platycercus elegans'') have been observed eating the sori.{{R|FOA}}

The caudices of tree ferns provide very good support for the growth of epiphytes. A 2005 study of 120 naturally growing specimens of ''Dicksonia antarctica'' in Tasmania found a total of 97 species of smaller ferns, mosses and bryophytes growing on them.{{R|ROBERTS}}

==Conservation== This species is listed as "special least concern" in Queensland, and as endangered in South Australia.{{R|WILDNET|FLORASA}} {{As of|November 2025}}, it has not been given any conservation classification by the Australian, New South Wales, Victorian or Tasmanian governments, nor by the IUCN.

==Cultivation== right|thumb|A potted plant: the trunk is 60 cm high

''Dicksonia antarctica'' generally requires a minimum rainfall of 500 mm (20 inches) per year. In dry climates, a drip irrigation or spray system applied overhead is the most effective method of watering.{{Citation needed|reason=|date=November 2025}}

This plant is particularly suited to garden planting and landscaping purposes. As an ornamental plant, it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{R|RHS1|RHS2}}

==Uses== The caudices of the soft tree fern have been used for fencing and for growing orchids.{{R|LARGE|p=285}} Both the pith and the croziers of the soft tree fern are edible, and were eaten by indigenous Australians.{{R|TIMLOW}} The 1889 book ''The Useful Native Plants of Australia'' records that {{Blockquote|"The pulp of the top of the trunk is full of starch, and is eaten by the aboriginals {{sic}} both raw and roasted. <br>'The native blacks {{sic}} of the colony used to split open about a foot and a-half of the top of the trunk, and take out the heart, in substance resembling a Swedish turnip, and of the thickness of a man's arm. This they either roasted in the ashes, or ate as bread; but it is too bitter and astringent to suit an English palate. (Gunn){{' "}}{{R|MAIDEN}}}}

==Gallery== {{Gallery|mode=packed |File:Hidden inside Yarra Ranges National Park.jpg|In typical habitat |File:Balantium antarcticum in Jardin des Plantes de Toulouse 02.jpg|Caudex |File:Dicksonia antarctica MHNT.BOT.2012.10.39.jpg|Cross section of caudex |File:Wielangta Dicksonia antarctica leaves 2.jpg|Frond detail |File:MdDastyxv.jpg|Epiphytes on the trunk }}

==References== {{Reflist|28em|refs= <ref name="APNI">{{cite web |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/rest/name/apni/102139 |title=''Dicksonia antarctica'' Labill. |website=Australian Plant Name Index (APNI) |publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government |access-date=16 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="POWO">{{cite web |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17082540-1 |title=''Dicksonia antarctica'' Labill. |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |year=2025 |access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="FOA">{{cite web |url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Dicksonia%20antarctica |title=''Dicksonia antarctica'' Labill. |last1=Jones |first1=D.L. |year=2022 |editor-last1=Wheeler |editor-first1=A.M. |website=Flora of Australia |publisher=Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra |access-date=16 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="FOAa">{{cite web |url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Dicksonia |title=''Dicksonia antarctica'' L'Hér. |last1=Jones |first1=D.L. |year=2022 |editor-last1=Wheeler |editor-first1=A.M. |website=Flora of Australia |publisher=Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra |access-date=16 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="PLANTNET">{{cite web |url=https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Dicksonia~antarctica |title=''Dicksonia antarctica'' Labill. |author1=Peter G. Wilson |year=1990 |website=PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System) |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney |access-date=16 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="VICFLORA">{{cite web |title=''Dicksonia antarctica'' Labill. Soft Tree-fern |url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/9c9ecf70-9027-490a-b26e-add18d163bf7 |website=VicFlora |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria |access-date=16 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="JONES">{{cite book |last1=Jones |first1=David L. |last2=Clemesha |first2=S.C. |date=1989 |title=Australian Ferns and Fern Allies |edition=2 |publisher=Currwong Press |publication-place=Chatswood, NSW, Australia |isbn=0-7301-0298-X |page=}}</ref>

<ref name="AVH">{{cite web |title=Search: species: Dicksonia billardierei {{!}} Occurrence records |url=https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Dicksonia%20billardierei#tab_mapView |website=Australasian Virtual Herbarium |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="LARGE">{{Cite book |last1=Large |first1=Mark F. |last2=Braggins |first2=John E. |title=Tree ferns |date=2004 |publisher=CSIRO Publishing |isbn=0-643-09076-2 |location=Melbourne }}</ref>

<ref name="RHS1">{{cite web |title=''Dicksonia antarctica'' |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/5794/Dicksonia-antarctica/Details |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref>

<ref name="RHS2">{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf |title=AGM Plants - Ornamental |date=July 2017 |page=29 |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=6 February 2018}}</ref>

<ref name="MAIDEN">{{cite book |last=Maiden |first=J. H. |title=The Useful Native Plants of Australia, (Including Tasmania) |date=1889 |volume=1889 |publisher=The Technological Museum of New South Wales |location=Sydney |page=22 |access-date=15 November 2025 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/12453202 }}</ref>

<ref name="JORDAN">{{Cite journal |last1=Jordan |first1=Gj |last2=MacPhail |first2=Mk |last3=Barnes |first3=R |last4=Hill |first4=Rs |date=1995 |title=An Early to Middle Pleistocene Flora of Subalpine Affinities in Lowland Western Tasmania |url=http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=BT9950231 |journal=Australian Journal of Botany |language=en |volume=43 |issue=2 |pages=231 |doi=10.1071/BT9950231 |bibcode=1995AuJB...43..231J |issn=0067-1924|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

<ref name="LABILL">{{cite book |last=Labillardière |first=Jacques |title=Novæ Hollandiæ plantarum specimen |date=1806 |publisher=Dominæ Huzard |location=Paris |page=100 |volume=2 |lang=la |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40882059 }}</ref>

<ref name="PRESL">{{cite web |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17057120-1 |title=''Balantium antarcticum'' C.Presl |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |year=2025 |access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="KAULF">{{cite web |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17069420-1 |title=''Cibotium billardierei'' Kaulf. |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |year=2025 |access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="MUELL">{{cite web |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:17082710-1 |title=''Dicksonia billardierei'' F.Muell. |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |year=2025 |access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="KANTVILAS">{{cite book |last1=Kantvilas |first1=Gintaras |editor1-last=Mulvaney |editor1-first=John |editor2-last=Tyndale-Biscoe |editor2-first=Hugh |title=Rediscovering Recherche Bay |date=2007 |page=39 |publisher=Academy of Social Sciences |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280136315 |chapter=Labillardiere and the beginning of botanical exploration in Tasmania}}</ref>

<ref name="DUYKER">{{cite web |last1=Duyker |first1=Edward |title=Labillardière and his Relation |url=https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/labillardiere-and-his-relation/ |website=The Public Domain Review |date=2011}}</ref>

<ref name="HUNT">{{cite journal |last1=Hunt |first1=M. A. |last2=Davidson |first2=N. J. |last3=Unwin |first3=G. L. |last4=Close |first4=D. C. |title=Ecophysiology of the Soft Tree Fern, ''Dicksonia antarctica'' Labill. |journal=Austral Ecology |date=June 2002 |volume=27 |issue=4 |pages=360–368 |doi=10.1046/j.1442-9993.2002.01190.x |bibcode=2002AusEc..27..360H}}</ref>

<ref name="ROBERTS">{{cite journal |last1=Roberts |first1=Nina R. |last2=Dalton |first2=Patrick J. |last3=Jordan |first3=Gregory J. |title=Epiphytic ferns and bryophytes of Tasmanian tree-ferns: A comparison of diversity and composition between two host species |journal=Austral Ecology |date=2005 |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=146–154 |doi=10.1111/j.1442-9993.2005.01440.x |bibcode=2005AusEc..30..146R }}</ref>

<ref name="TIMLOW">{{cite book |last=Low |first=Tim |author-link=Tim Low |title=Wild Food Plants of Australia |date=1998 |publisher=Angus & Robertson Publishers |location=Sydney |isbn=0-207-16930-6 |url=https://www.timlow.com/wild-food-plants/ |page=86 }}</ref>

<ref name="WILDNET">{{cite web |url=https://wildnet.science-data.qld.gov.au/taxon-detail?taxon_id=14596 |title=''Dicksonia antarctica'' |year=2025 |website=Wildnet |publisher=Queensland Government |access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref>

<ref name="FLORASA">{{cite web |title=''Dicksonia antarctica'' Labill. |url=https://flora.sa.gov.au/taxon/70326-dicksonia-antarctica |website=Flora SA |publisher=Board of Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium |access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref> }}

==External links== {{Wikispecies}} {{Commonscat}} * [https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Dicksonia+antarctica#tab_mapView Map] of herbarium records of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium * [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&taxon_id=143921 Observations] of this species on iNaturalist * [https://flickriver.com/search/Dicksonia+antarctica Images] of this species on Flickriver.com

Category:Dicksoniaceae Category:Ferns of Australia Category:Flora of New South Wales Category:Flora of Tasmania Category:Flora of Victoria (state) Category:Trees of Australia Category:Trees of mild maritime climate Category:Garden plants of Oceania Category:Ornamental trees Category:Plants described in 1807 Category:Trees of temperate climates