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Tropical Plants - Australia

King Tree Fern

billabonggardens

21 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)

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

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

Andrew.
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Yood, yes, cultivating the Narcissus (US-Daffodil) is considered a high skill hobby among the Vietnamese. Mostly are done in water and not in soil. It is a difficult technique as I was told by my parents. It's considered to be a hobby among the prestige. You're right about how to force Hoa Mai to bloom. Since in south VN, it is the main decorated plant for the Lunar New Year, most of the time we force it to bloom in time for the New Year. Lucky you that it only takes 2 weeks in your area to force it blooms. For us here in the US, it takes 6-7 weeks for it to bloom. Then again, it could be due to a different hybrid than the one you have. Daai_Tau_Lam, I didn't mean Hong Kong to be cold such as freezing temperature but isn't the climate is subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall? This is almost the same as of North Viet Nam. South VN is very tropical. There is no cool weather at any time of the year with the exception of Da Lat because it's in higher altitude. Let's put it this way, we have rain forests in the south. I guess when it comes to plants, there is a big different between tropical and subtropical climate. Plants are very picky, aren't they? Hoa Mai may be one of them. It may not grow easily under Hong Kong climate. Maybe, that's why you don't see them? Or, is it perhaps, because there's not enough demand for it so nursery don't bother to grow it? Hey, but like you said, if you're able to provide the perfect condition for the plant, you can grow it. Heck, there're plants that are grown in space and in moon soil even. Personally, I want to grow so much more than I have place and physical strength for. Aren't we all?!? I have burst of interest of a certain kind of plant every season. Then if it doen't work out, my burst of interest change. Last year, it was orchids; this year, it's roses. Love our discussions :) It's so interesting since we live in 3 different parts of the world. Well, I need to visit the Rose forum now and learn some more :) Ciao, til later!
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thanks for the info, everyone. I've been giving it lots of drinks. It is less hot today and looking less sickly. hoovb, thanks for posting the photos of your beautiful trees. They are huge, and I wasn't aware they get that big. I'm pretty annoyed that my landscape designer would put it there knowing this gets big. Here's a wider shot of the front. As you can see, the fern tree is right next to the garage, so we have to back our car out right next to it. My car already sort of brushes up against it when I back out. I'm in agreement with you all it needs moved. Any thoughts on what we should replace it with? Something that has some height? The spot gets mostly shade/dappled sun.
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This population is well known to both botanists & local conservationists in fact I was directed to these plants after making inquiries to see if I could get permission to collect spore from local populations as I thought the plants I have growing were from an interstate source. It turns out however that the 4 nice plants I already have growing were originally grown from this very population. It was nice to see the plants from which mine were grown & mine are producing lots of spore so they are pretty secure into the future at least in cultivation. Also if I introduce any back into habitat it's nice to know they were grown from locally sourced material.There are several other localities through the Mt.Lofty Ranges where there are similar relic populations, some of only a handful of plants. The exact locations of most of them are carefully guarded. There is a local story told of some silly person who dug up & stole many old large King Ferns from private property in the 1970s presumably to sell them. Of course they would have all died in short order. This is considered a conservation tragedy & is the main reason that no one reveals locations of these fine plants.
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Grant_fnq
21 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
21 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
21 years ago
Also grows naturally in NE NSW

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

Cheers from Kris.
waldon
21 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
21 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
21 years ago
now my challage is to find a phaius and Doryanthes pamleri for my Aussie garden
Wooroonooran
21 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
21 years ago
thanks agin I have tracked down the Phaius and the Doryanthus with the connections you all privided.
zeta9
21 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
21 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
21 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
15 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
14 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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