Dicksoniaceae

ferns · tropical · plants · nature

Ancient plant family. Dicksoniaceae ferns have been around for millions of years and belong to a group of plants called pteridophytes, which are some of the oldest plants on Earth.

Southern Hemisphere home. Most Dicksoniaceae ferns live in tropical regions of the Southern Hemisphere, with some species reaching all the way to southern New Zealand.

Different sizes and shapes. While most Dicksoniaceae ferns stay small or have short trunks, some species can grow several metres tall, and some even live as epiphytes by growing on other trees without harming them.

Growing in two ways. Some Dicksoniaceae ferns are terrestrial, meaning they grow in soil on the ground, while others are epiphytes that live high up on tree branches in rainforests.

Not too many species. There are only 30 to 40 species in the Dicksoniaceae family, making it a relatively small group of ferns compared to other plant families.