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Rough Tree-fern
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Rough Tree-fern
Cyathea australisA hardy, slow-growing, long-lived tree-fern growing up to 12m tall with a buttressed base caused by the roots. It has a sharp texture on base of frond stems, which, after breaking off, remain to clad the trunk. It often grows in a more exposed situation than the Soft Tree-fern. Roots grow down sides of trunk. Lyrebirds may nest in the centre of the crown. Snow on the fronds bends them downwards creating beautiful forms. The Rough Tree-fern survives fire, although is less likely to be burnt in gullies. The patterns of broken-off frond stubs indicate dryness of past seasons. The Rough Tree-fern is one of the few medicinal ferns. Aboriginal people from the Tully River in northern Queensland roast the stems of young fronds to eat as a tonic for a variety of ailments. Modern genera of Cyathea and Dicksonia are recorded at least 300 million years ago (late Cretaceous). |
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