The Wheki tree fern is one of the most common and abundant tree ferns in New Zealand. Here are 2 tips to help identify this endemic New Zealand plant.
I love going for a walk in the native forests of New Zealand. As a friend pointed out to me, one of the coolest parts of the forest are all of the crazy tree ferns. It’s true that the tree ferns are a remarkable part of the native lowland podocarp/broadleaf forest. There are 10 species of tree ferns in the country, including Mamaku, and Ponga or silver fern. I know it can be confusing to tell them apart, so here are two tips to help you identify a Wheki or Rough Tree Fern.
About Wheki Tree Fern
This is a common tree fern. It’s a medium sized tree fern, growing up to 7 meters tall.
This tree fern can be found across the country on both the north and south islands, in addition to some other smaller islands. It grows in lowland and mountain forest from sea level up to around 750 m.
This tree fern sometimes sends out underground rhizomes or shoots from which new trees can grow. This is why you will sometimes see these trees growing in groves or groups of trees.
Cool factoid
2 Tips To ID Wheki Tree Fern
1 – Are there hairs on the bases of the fronds?
Look closely at the base of the fronds, where the fronds attach to the trunk. The base of the fronds of the Wheki tree fern are covered in small black hairs. If there are no hairs, then it’s some other type of tree fern.
Interestingly, there are two families of tree ferns in New Zealand, Cyathaea and Dicksonia. There are many differences, but the simplest way to tell them apart is that the young Cyathea fronds are covered in scales. In contrast, the young Dicksonia fronds are covered in hairs (like the Wheki fronds). There are three species of Dicksonia tree ferns – Wheki, Wheki Ponga, and Tuakura or Wooly Tree Fern.
2. Look at the trunk.
I always look at the trunk of tree ferns to help me figure out what it is. The trunk of the Wheki is not smooth, but is covered in the broken off bases of the old fronds.
The only other tree fern that has a similar trunk is the Ponga or silver fern. If the trunk is covered in broken off fronds then check for hairs at the base of the fronds or look for the silver color on the undersides of the fronds that is a distinguishing feature of the silver fern.