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Tropical Plants - Australia

King Tree Fern

billabonggardens

19 years ago

I found a very large tree fern at a nursery in Maryborough

and ther only name on it was King tree fern

Does anyone out there know its botanical name please as so far I have not found it in any of my research books

Thats the problem when common names are used,

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Comments (15)

mistymorn
19 years ago
Could be the King Fern, Angiopteris evecta
That grows in the Carnarvon Gorge in Qld

MM.
CoralCoast_Tropicals
19 years ago
Also grows on Fraser Island, needs plenty of water though to succeed.

Andrew.
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I think its a fern?? Maybe a Austrailian Tree fern?
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There are many different species of tree fern that come from all sorts of different habitats. Do you have an ID for yours? Some tree ferns drop their fronds soon after they dry off. Some retain the dead fronds for quite a while. As long as there's plenty of good fronds in the crown of the plant it does no harm to cut off the ones that are dying and looking bad. As long as they have plenty of water some tree ferns can cope with full sun. But that's not all species. If you don't know the ID then stick with keeping it out of direct sunlight, or in filtered sun at most. Remember that indoors the air get's quite dry so the plant will appreciate a bit of misting.
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Hi Don't confuse "Tree fern mounts with Long fibered Sphagnum moss The mounts are the trunks of tree ferns compressed and formed into various shapes usually for the purpose of growing epiphytes ,mostly orchids . I've used them for many years in the form of pots,sheets even in the shape of bunnies lol I grow 5 kinds of tree ferns but have had no luck getting orchids to grow on the living ferns .Interestingly they produce a fiber that repels epiphytes from attaching . Dead ,the orchid will happily grow right into it. They discourage the use of tree fern mounts because they have wiped out whole forests harvesting them for that purpose. If you want to mount orchids use cork bark works as well and is a renewable resource. though if growing indoors would think a poor choice ?? gary
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Grant_fnq
19 years ago
On Fraser Island they actually grow in the bed of the creeks, they need so much water to pump up their massive fronds. They are also fairly common in the rainforests of North Queensland, once again, generally growing on close proximity to a running creek. This is a plant that needs a lot of water.
Grant
Liatris
19 years ago
If it was Bougainvillea Dell nursery, then it was indeed a king fern, as mentioned by the others. I must go get myself one now that I have the space.
Wooroonooran
19 years ago
Also grows naturally in NE NSW

http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/PDFs/approved_angevect.pdf

Cheers from Kris.
waldon
19 years ago
I have one and if it doesn't get water it droops right down to the ground like it's dead. Water it and it will rise back up like lazarus. Great plant.
billabonggardens
Original Author
19 years ago
thanks every one
And yes is was at the Bougainvillea Dell nursery, I plan to get at least three of them as I have my grey water on from washing machine and dishwasher going to the very tropical side of my garden so it should do well there
billabonggardens
Original Author
19 years ago
now my challage is to find a phaius and Doryanthes pamleri for my Aussie garden
Wooroonooran
19 years ago
D.palmeri

Phone Deb or Graham on (02) 66771675
They have heaps
or Try
Burringbar Rainforest Nursery (02) 66771088

From Kris
billabonggardens
Original Author
19 years ago
thanks agin I have tracked down the Phaius and the Doryanthus with the connections you all privided.
zeta9
19 years ago
Angiopteris evecta is strictly speaking not a tree fern. It belongs to the family Marattaceae. Grow it in humus rich soil and not sterilised medium. This large fern has thick roots and it utilises micro fungi in the soil to help it get nutrients and water.
Wooroonooran
19 years ago
Marattiaceae !
I think all plants utilise some sort of microbe or fungi for nutrients, i think its vascular system is used to obtain water-not micro fungi.
Kris
billabonggardens
Original Author
19 years ago
Bouganvillia Nursery man Don says there in bacteria in the ground where it grows natually that you need if you was to cultivate the fern.. I picked up a couple and planted out. with lots of leaf mulch. also picked up Doryanthas and phaius for my collection
jenniferhemsley1_gmail_com
12 years ago
I have two king ferns growing against the brick wall of my house. they are growing well and are getting very big. Can I move them?
tropicbreezent
12 years ago
Some people here moved a very large one (fronds were about 2.5 metres long) and it's growing quite well. During humid wet weather would be best.

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