Botanical name:

Ptisana salicina

Common name(s):

King fern, para, tawhiti para, horseshoe fern

About:

A large and robust plant characterised by a distinctive and striking tropical appearance. It features impressive fronds that can grow up to 5m tall, which elegantly arise from a starchy base that has historically served as a traditional food source for the Maori people.

Natural habitat:

Favouring lowland, karst habitats (cave entrances and tomo shafts) and dark stream sides, often amongst supplejack (Ripogonum scandens) and parataniwha (Elatostema rugosum).

Growing environment:

Shade, Wetland, Wind & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North Island throughout the north-western half of the Island from inland Wanganui northwards. The Waikato is probably its stronghold where it is known from many remnants and forested areas in the west.

Height: 5m

Flowering: N/A Spore producing.

Fruiting: N/A

Uses:

Forests

How to grow:

Difficult. Can be grown from spores but very slow.