silver fern
{{Short description|Species of medium-sized tree fern}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Silver fern
| image = Alsophila tricolor kz03.jpg
| image_alt = The silver-white underside of a much divided compound leaf. The main stem at the bottom of the image is quite thick and green-brown under the white coating. A smaller division, called a pinnae for its resemblance to a feather, is centered in the photograph. Even smaller pinnae are attached alternately to either side of the leaf stem, each with numerous leaflets, classic fern frond. Behind the upturned leaf there is a background of more fern leaves and an unfurling fiddlehead of a new leaf that is still quite brown and fuzzy.
| image_caption = Frond, showing the silver-white underside
| genus = Alsophila (plant)
| species = tricolor
| authority = (Colenso) R.M.Tryon
{{Species list
|Cyathea dealbata|(G.Forst.) Sw.
|Cyathea falciloba|(Colenso) Domin
|Cyathea tricolor|Colenso
|Hemitelia falciloba|Colenso
|Polypodium dealbatum|G.Forst.
}}
| status = NT
| status_system = NZTCS
| range_map=Cyathea dealbata distribution map.png
}}
Alsophila tricolor, synonym Cyathea dealbata, commonly known as the silver fern{{cite web |last1=Brownsey |first1=Patrick |title=Ferns and lycophytes – Ferns and lycophytes in New Zealand |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10881/silver-fern |publisher=Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=12 October 2018 |date=24 September 2007 |archive-date=11 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011214506/https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10881/silver-fern |url-status=live }} or silver tree-fern,{{BSBI 2007 |access-date=2014-10-17 }} or as ponga {{IPAc-en|'|p|Q|N|@}} or punga {{IPAc-en|'|p|V|N|@}} (from Māori {{lang|mi|kaponga}} or {{lang|mi|ponga}}),The Māori word {{lang|mi|ponga}}, pronounced {{IPA|mi|ˈpɔŋa|}}, has been borrowed into New Zealand English as a generic term for tree ferns. It is also used to refer to tree fern logs when used for landscaping purposes. English speakers generally pronounce the word {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ʌ|ŋ|ə}} {{respell|PUNG|ə}}. is a species of medium-sized tree fern, endemic to New Zealand. The fern is usually recognisable by the silver-white colour of the under-surface of mature fronds. It is a symbol commonly associated with the country both overseas and by New Zealanders themselves.{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/government-and-nation/9|title=Government and nation – National animal and flower|date=3 March 2009|encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand|access-date=16 February 2010}}
Alsophila tricolor is the correct name for Cyathea dealbata in Alsophila because the epithet dealbata is preoccupied by Alsophila dealbata C.Presl (now a synonym of Sphaeropteris glauca).
Description
This fern is known to grow to heights of {{convert|10|metre}} or more (though it occasionally takes a rare creeping form). The crown is dense, and mature fronds can be as much as {{convert|3|metre}} long and {{cvt|1|metre}} wide with a silver-white colouration on the undersides. The fronds may be bipinnately compound or tripinnate. The underside colouration is less intensely silvery or patchy in younger plants and juveniles are pale green.{{Cite web |last1=Allan |first1=Harry H. |author-link1=Harry Allan |date=2024 |orig-date=1961 |url=https://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/taxa/7c8835c9-9aa2-401a-9a5b-ab85d958eb72 |title=Cyathea dealbata (G.Forst.) Sw. |website=Flora of New Zealand Series |publisher=Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research |location=Lincoln, New Zealand |language=en |isbn=978-0-477-01056-6 |oclc=59242307 |access-date=21 February 2025}} This distinctive silver colouration has made them useful for laying along tracks for night walking. The scales are a dark brown and are often twisted and glossy.{{cite book|last1=Large|first1=Mark F.|last2=Braggins|first2=John E. |author-link2=John E. Braggins|title=Tree Ferns|year=2004|publisher=Timber Press, Inc.|isbn=0-88192-630-2|pages=[https://archive.org/details/treeferns00mark/page/120 120–121]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/treeferns00mark/page/120}} Rhizomes very rarely prostrate, usually erect, forming a woody trunk up to {{convert|12|metre}} tall, {{convert|160|to|450|mm}} in diameter, covered in light brown or white projecting stipe bases, bearing scales near the apex.{{cite web |title=Flora of New Zealand {{!}} Taxon Profile {{!}} Cyathea dealbata |url=http://www.nzflora.info/factsheet/taxon/Cyathea-dealbata.html |website=www.nzflora.info |access-date=11 October 2018 |language=en |archive-date=11 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011013800/http://www.nzflora.info/factsheet/taxon/Cyathea-dealbata.html |url-status=live }}
Habitat
Arriving relatively late in New Zealand's history during the Pliocene epoch{{cite book |last=Parsons |first=Stuart |title=Biology Aotearoa |year=2006 |publisher=Pearson Education New Zealand |isbn=1-877268-00-3|display-authors=etal}} (around 5.0–1.8 million years ago), the silver fern occurs on the main islands of New Zealand—although absent from the west and south regions of the South Island,{{cite web |title=The significance of the silver fern |url=https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/discover-collections/read-watch-play/maori/significance-silver-fern |website=Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, NZ |access-date=13 October 2018 |language=en |date=6 June 2017 |archive-date=11 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511172952/https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/discover-collections/read-watch-play/maori/significance-silver-fern |url-status=live }} on the Chatham Islands to the east, and is also native to Lord Howe Island. It has also become naturalized in Ireland.{{cite POWO |id=17533980-1 |title=Alsophila tricolor (Colenso) R.M.Tryon |access-date=21 February 2025}} Its primary habitat is subcanopy areas of drier forests and in open scrub, although it is occasionally found on bush margins and in more open areas, and has been recorded from amongst rushes in a dune slack.
The fern is known to grow well in well-drained humus, and once established, it will tolerate drier conditions.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=1776|title=Cyathea dealbata {{!}} New Zealand Plant Conservation Network|last=de Lange|first=P. J.|date=March 2004|website=www.nzpcn.org.nz|access-date=2019-05-17|archive-date=2019-12-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223141814/http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=1776|url-status=live}} It does best when sheltered from winds and should be protected from frost. Evidence of large amount of macro-charcoals in the top layers of soil suggest that Cyathea dealbata establish themselves in areas where anthropogenic fires occur
In culture
Image:Silver Fern Koru2.JPG or unfurling frond of silver fern]]
The earliest use of the silver fern as an official emblem was by the New Zealand Army during the Second Boer War. Since then, the silver fern has been used by the New Zealand Expeditionary Force during both world wars, and all Commonwealth war graves of fallen New Zealand soldiers have the silver fern engraved on their tombstones. During the 1956 Suez Crisis, Egyptians took exception to New Zealand and Canadian peacekeepers having the Union Flag on their uniforms. Canadian troops wore the Maple Leaf whereas the New Zealand contingent wore a silver fern symbol. New Zealand peacekeepers have since used both the silver fern and kiwi symbols for different deployments to differentiate from their Australian and British counterparts.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}
Additionally, several British Army units wear the silver fern, normally as a battle honour granted for serving with New Zealand troops. For example, the Queen’s Royal Hussars, the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry and the Warwickshire Yeomanry, all of whom fought with 2nd New Zealand Division at the Second Battle of El Alamein.
The silver fern has long been used on dairy products, including the logo of New Zealand Natural, and was trademarked as early as 1885.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} It is a logo for many other organisations, such as (heavily stylised) the rail operator KiwiRail. The Silver Fern is also the name of a class of railcar.{{cite web |title=Silver Fern railcar |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/silver-star |website=NZHistory |publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=12 October 2018 |date=16 October 2014 |archive-date=11 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011214536/https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/silver-star |url-status=live }}
Silver fern fronds appear on the coat of arms of New Zealand.{{cite web |last1=Levine |first1=Stephen |title=Coat of arms – Coat of arms overview |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/ephemera/35051/new-zealand-coat-of-arms |publisher=e Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=12 October 2018 |date=12 June 2012 |archive-date=26 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426093320/https://teara.govt.nz/en/ephemera/35051/new-zealand-coat-of-arms |url-status=live }} Some alternative flags for New Zealand, such as the silver fern flag, utilise the fern. The official proposal of the 2015–2016 New Zealand flag referendums featured the silver fern.{{cite news |title=NZ confirms flag referendum candidate |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35090641 |access-date=12 October 2018 |work=BBC News |date=15 December 2015 |archive-date=2 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502025732/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35090641 |url-status=live }} The silver fern is also used extensively within politics and printed material, such as the logo of the New Zealand Labour Party.{{cite web |title=Register of Political Parties |url=https://www.elections.org.nz/parties-candidates/registered-political-parties/register-political-parties |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=12 October 2018 |language=en |archive-date=2 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302054928/https://www.elections.org.nz/parties-candidates/registered-political-parties/register-political-parties |url-status=live }}
The Silver Fern was first discovered by the Māori people, who are the indigenous people of New Zealand. According to the legend of the Māori people, the Silver Fern “once lived in the sea” and the Māori hunters would “...use the silver underside of the fern leaves to find their way home…”. When bent at an angle, the leaves of the fern would catch the moonlight and “illuminate a path through the forest” {{Cite web|title=New Zealand icon: Silver fern|url=https://media.newzealand.com/en/story-ideas/new-zealand-icon-silver-fern/|access-date=2021-03-26|website=TNZ Media|archive-date=2021-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504115943/https://media.newzealand.com/en/story-ideas/new-zealand-icon-silver-fern/|url-status=live}}
The koru symbol is inspired by the shape of an unfurling silver fern frond. It is found extensively in Māori art, from carving to the official Māori flag, and is used in a stylised form as the logo for national airline Air New Zealand.{{cite book |last1=Wedde |first1=Ian |title=Making Ends Meet: Essays and Talks, 1992–2004 |date=2005 |publisher=Victoria University Press |isbn=9780864735034 |page=187 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1uQzBzQPfnkC&pg=PA187 |language=en}} Its circular shape conveys the idea of perpetual movement, and its inward coil suggests a return to the point of origin.{{cite web |last1=Walrond |first1=Carl |title=The koru |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/2422/the-koru |publisher=Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=12 October 2018 |archive-date=1 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701150731/https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/2422/the-koru |url-status=live }}
In short, the fern has become one of the most widely recognized symbols of New Zealand, next to the kiwi—however, it is not an official national symbol.
File:NZ flag design Silver Fern (Black, White & Blue) by Kyle Lockwood.svg|The rejected silver fern flag proposal of the 2015 flag referendum
File:Mount Cook Airline ATR 72-600 at Rotorua Airport (cropped).jpg|An Air New Zealand ATR 72-600 with a stylised koru on the tail and otherwise painted in all black livery with a silver fern on the fuselage
File:All Blacks 1905.JPG|An All Blacks jersey from 1905, featuring a silver fern
Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand (cropped).jpg|Elizabeth II wearing the Silver Fern Brooch in her official portrait as Queen of New Zealand, 2012
= Use in sport =
The silver fern has been used as a symbol by New Zealand national sports teams, in various stylised forms, since it was first worn by players in the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team which toured Britain.{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=John |title=Nation and government – Nationhood and identity |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/2579/wearing-the-silver-fern |publisher=Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=12 October 2018 |date=16 September 2016 |archive-date=11 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011214430/https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/2579/wearing-the-silver-fern |url-status=live }} "Silver Ferns" is the name of the national netball team, and most other national women's sports teams have nicknames based on the term "Ferns", such as Black Ferns (women's rugby union), Tall Ferns (women's basketball) and Football Ferns (women's association football).
National sport teams using the silver fern include:
{{Div col}}
- All Blacks (rugby)
- Silver Ferns (netball)
- All Whites (football)
- Tall Blacks (basketball)
- White Ferns (women's cricket)
- Black Caps (men's cricket)
- Black Ferns (women's rugby)
- Black Sticks Men & Black Sticks Women (field hockey)
- Team New Zealand (sailing)
- Iron Blacks (American football)
{{Div col end}}
The silver fern is also extensively used as part of the official symbols of New Zealand Olympics teams.{{cite news |last1=Strang |first1=Ben |title=The history of black: Why do Kiwi sports teams wear black and when did it start? |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/82035787/the-history-of-black-why-do-kiwi-sports-teams-wear-black-and-when-did-it-start |access-date=11 October 2018 |work=Stuff.co.nz |language=en |archive-date=11 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011214453/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/82035787/the-history-of-black-why-do-kiwi-sports-teams-wear-black-and-when-did-it-start |url-status=live }}
=Controversy=
In 1991, the New Zealand Rugby Football Union obtained trade marks for the name “All Blacks” and its own stylised fern, however the scope of the application was broader because they sought to register any 'fern'. In 2005, after a legal case lasting four years, the union failed in its bid to stop anyone else using any fern logo on any black jersey.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10359885|title=NZRU bid for silver fern rights thrown out|date=14 December 2005|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=11 April 2015|archive-date=11 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411021428/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10359885|url-status=live}}
Footnotes
{{Reflist|group="note"}}
References
{{reflist|refs=
}}
Brock, Perry, G. L. W., Lee, W. G., Schwendenmann, L., & Burns, B. R. (2018). Pioneer tree ferns influence community assembly in northern New Zealand forests. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 42(1), 18–30. https://doi.org/10.20417/nzjecol.42.5
External links
- [http://www.nzflora.info/factsheet/Taxon/Cyathea-dealbata.html Definitive scientific account of Cyathea dealbata] – Te Papa for Flora of New Zealand
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q17185483|from2=Q1248008}}
Category:Endemic flora of New Zealand
Category:National symbols of New Zealand