Silver
fern
generally
prefers
drier
and
more
disturbed
sites
than
are
generally
offered
at
Pukaha.
Nevertheless,
there
are
some
good
examples
alongside
the
track
where
they
are
easily
recognised
by
the
silver
undersides
of
the
fronds.
Maori
and
other
early
bush
travellers
laid
the
fronds
on
the
ground
to
help
guide
their
return
through
the
forest
at
night.
Silver
fern
trunks
are
also
home
to
epiphytic
plants,
but
not
to
the
same
extent
as
wheki.
Silver
fern
is
found
on
the
Three
Kings,
North,
South
and
Chatham
Islands
and
forms
a
medium
sized
tree
fern,
growing
to
10
metres.
