Cyathea dealbata

"Silver Fern" redirects here. For other uses, see Silver Fern (disambiguation).

Silver fern
Frond, showing silver underside
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pteridophyta
Class:	Pteridopsida
Order:	Cyatheales
Family:	Cyatheaceae
Genus:	Cyathea
Subgenus:	Cyathea
Section:	Alsophila
Species:	C. dealbata
Binomial name
Cyathea dealbata (G. Forster) Swartz, 1801
Synonyms
Polypodium dealbatum G. Forster, 1786 Cyathea tricolor Colenso, 1883 Alsophila tricolor (Colenso) Tryon, 1970

The silver fern flag has become an iconic, if unofficial symbol of New Zealand.^[1]

Cyathea dealbata, or the silver tree fern or silver fern (kaponga or ponga in the Māori language), is a species of medium-sized tree fern, endemic to New Zealand.^[2] It is a symbol commonly associated with the country both overseas and by New Zealanders themselves.^[3]

This fern is known to grow to heights of 10 m or more (though it occasionally takes a rare creeping form). The crown is dense, and the fronds tend to be about 4 m long and have a silver-white colouration on the undersides. This distinctive silver colouration has made them useful for laying along tracks for night walking. The scales are a dark brown and are often twisted and glossy.^[4]

Arriving relatively late in New Zealand's history during the Pliocene epoch^[5] (around 5 - 1.8 million years ago), the silver fern occurs on the main islands of New Zealand and on the Chatham Islands to the east, mostly in the subcanopy areas of drier forests and in open scrub. It is known to grow well in well-drained humus, and once established, it will tolerate drier conditions. It does best when sheltered from winds and should be protected from frost. It does not grow under the dense canopy of mature forests.

In culture

• The silver fern has long been used on dairy products and was trademarked as early as 1885.
• It is a logo for many other organisations, such as (heavily stylised) the rail infrastructure owner OnTrack and the Silver Fern is also the name of a class of rail carriage.
• The koru symbol found in Māori art is inspired by the shape of a young ponga frond.
• Silver fern leaves appear on the Coat of arms of New Zealand.
• Many New Zealanders get a tattoo of a Silver Fern, as a statement of being from New Zealand.
• Some alternative flags for New Zealand, such as the silver fern flag, use the Silver fern.
• The silver fern is also used extensively within politics and printed material, such as the logo of The New Zealand Progressive Party.

In sum, the fern has become one of the most widely recognised symbols of New Zealand, next to the Kiwi, though it is not an official symbol.^[3]

Sports teams using the silver fern as symbol

• All Blacks (rugby)
• Silver Ferns (netball)
• All Whites (football)
• Tall Blacks (basketball)
• White Ferns (women's cricket)
• Black Caps (men's cricket)
• Black Ferns (women's rugby)
• Black Sox (softball)
• Black Sticks Men & Black Sticks Women (field hockey)
• Team New Zealand (sailing)

Controversy

• In 1991, the NZRFU obtained trade marks for the name “All Blacks” and its own stylised fern, however on this occasion the scope of the application was broader because they sought to register any 'fern'. In 2005, after a legal case lasting 4 years, the Rugby Board failed in its bid to stop anyone else using any fern logo on any black jersey.
• In 2009 the International Rugby Board tried to stop volunteers from wearing a silver fern at the Rugby World Cup, as they believe the emblem belongs only to the All Blacks.

References

1. ^ "Government and nation - National animal and flower". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 3 March 2009. http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/government-and-nation/9. Retrieved 16 February 2010. 
2. ^ The Māori word ponga, pronounced [ˈpɔŋa], has been borrowed into New Zealand English as a generic term for tree ferns. It is also used to refer to tree fern logs when used for landscaping purposes. English speakers generally pronounce the word /ˈpʌŋə/ pung-a.
3. ^ ^{a b} "Government and nation - National animal and flower". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 3 March 2009. http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/government-and-nation/9. Retrieved 16 February 2010. 
4. ^ Large, M.F.; Braggins, J.F. (2004). Tree Ferns. Timber Press, Inc.. pp. 120–121. ISBN 0-88192-630-2. 
5. ^ Parsons, Stuart; et al. (2006). Biology Aotearoa. Pearson Education New Zealand. ISBN 1 877268 00 3. 

External links

External identifiers for Cyathea dealbata
EOL	6089714
NCBI	544599
Also found in: Wikispecies

• The International Plant Names Index: Cyathea dealbata