Soft tree fern, Tasmanian tree fern, Man fern, Woolly tree fern
Dicksonia antarctica

Family: Dicksoniaceae

What it is like

A tree fern. It has fronds all year round. It grows 1.8-3.7 m high and wide. It develops a single furry trunk. This is made up of the fibrous remains of old leaf stalks. The fronds are large and divided. They can be up to 2 m long and are glossy-green on the upper side and matt green underneath. They arch over. Normally a layer of dead fronds hangs down below the new fronds. The fronds are hairy at the base. The spore bodies or sori occur singly on each lobe of the frond.

There are about 25-30 Dicksonia species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It grows in wet mountain gullies. On Mt Roland. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. Tasmania Herbarium. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), India, Tasmania (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The pith from the centre of the trunk is eaten. It is rich in starch. The young unrolled fiddle heads or young leaf tips can be cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Heart, fronds, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from spores. Plants are also grown from the tops of older plants.

It is slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Combadik, Garag, Kum-ba-da, Wonon tulong

Synonyms

Balantium antarcticum (Labill.) C. Presl.; Cibotium billardieri Kaulf.;