102 
New Zealand Ferns 
VII. DICKSONIA 
DICIvSONIA (named after James Dickson, a 
British cryptogamist). A genus of about 25 species, 
with 3 in New Zealand; usually medium-sized tree- 
ferns. Seeds marginal, contained in a two-valved vessel. 
D. SQUARROSA 
( 37 ) D . squarrosci (rough). “Wheki.” A medium- 
sized tree-fern, with slender trunk and leaf-stalks, fronds 
nearly horizontal, easily recognised by the red-brown 
dead leaves that hang down the stem from under the 
crown. 
Description . — Trunk 6 to 20 feet high, slender, black or dark- 
brown. Stalks slender, dark-brown or black at the base, paler 
above, clothed when young with long darDbrown hairs, nearly 
smooth when old. Fronds 4 to 8 feet long by 2 to 3J feet broad, 
rigid, harsh to the touch, dark-green, paler below. Seeds rather 
large, copious, covering the whole back of the frond. 
Abundant throughout the Dominion. Sea-level to 2,500 feet. 
This slender, somewhat trim species of tree-fern is 
confined to New Zealand, where it is exceedingly abun- 
dant. The trunk occasionally branches, and sometimes 
produces adventitious buds along its whole length 
crowned with miniature fronds. It is easily cultivated. 
