Plant · GBIF taxon 7309859
Dicksonia Tree Fern
Dicksonia sellowianaAlso known as Xaxim, Samambaiaçu, Imperial Samambaiaçu
Dicksonia tree ferns thrive in the humid, misty cloud forests of Central and South America, forming dramatic understory canopies with fronds reaching up to two meters long. Their thick trunks are actually dense columns of adventitious roots wrapped around a slender vascular stem, acting like a giant sponge that retains moisture for mosses and epiphytes. Centuries of extremely slow growth allow mature specimens to tower up to ten meters tall in undisturbed Atlantic Forest remnants.
Tree FernCloud ForestEvergreen
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
Not available
ThreatsIllegal harvesting for fern fiber, deforestation, climate change
HabitatsMontane rainforests, cloud forests, damp ravines
Life span100–500 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyDicksoniaceae
- SpeciesDicksonia sellowiana
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a thick, fibrous trunk crowned by large arching fronds in high-altitude Atlantic Forest habitats.
- Support conservation
- Observe plants without touching or climbing, and never harvest fiber or fiddleheads from wild individuals.
Responsible observation
- Look for Epiphytes: Examine the fibrous trunk to discover miniature orchids, mosses, and smaller ferns rooted in the moist fiber.
- Respect Protections: Avoid purchasing traditional xaxim pots or root products derived from wild-harvested specimens.
Canopy Companion (c) Pietro, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative JJ Harrison / CC BY-SA 3.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Close Relative
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