TE  W
AONUI  O  TANE    
LEARN YOUR FERNS

How many of these species can you find?



Download this free app to identify them      

AOTEAROA SPECIES CLASSIFIER

                 Apple App Store
      Google Play     

 
Golden
   tree fern
Kuripaka
Dicksonia
   fibrosa

Smith's
   tree fern
Kātote Cyathea
   smithii

Rough
  tree fern
Wheki Dicksonia
   squarrosa

Palm leaf fern Kiokio             
Blechnum
  novae-zelandiae

Crown fern Piupiu Lomaria
   discolor

Hen & chickens Mouku Asplenium
   bulbiferum

Water fern Mata Histiopteris
   incisa

Mare's tail fern
Petako Asplenium
   polyodon

Filmy fern Irirangi Hymenophyllum
   demissum

Lime fern Pakau Pneumatopteris
  pennigera

Hound’s tongue
    fern
Kō-wao-wao,
Microsorum
   pustulatum

Sad creek fern Kiwa-kiwa Cranfillia
   fluviatilis

Drooping
   spleenwort
Makawe Asplenium
   flaccidum


KIDS

Now walk up the track, pointing and calling out,

"Crown Fern, piupiu."
"Dixonia, the golden one."
"Umm...whaaat!???" 

and haul out your cell phone.


TEENAGERS

Here are two more common tree ferns for you to find;

    — the All Blacks' Silver Fern - leaves have white undersides.

    — the big black Mamaku tree fern.
        Its young fiddleheads are the size of double-bass heads!
        It is often found growing up from damp sheltered gullies.         
   



Draft webpage built by John Archer, 6 Nov - 26 Dec 2025

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