Cyathea colensoi

mountain tree fern

Cyathea colensoi occurs in montane and subalpine forest and scrub, from the Bay of Plenty to Stewart Island.  It grows at high altitudes in the North Island but reaches the lowlands in the South Island.

It resembles Cyathea smithii but does not form a trunk.  Trunkless Cyathea that are fertile (i.e., producing reproductive structures) can be confidently identified as C. colensoi; the other species generally do not become fertile until they have developed a considerable trunk.  The identity of C. colensoi is easily confirmed because it is the only New Zealand Cyathea that lacks an indusia (a protective covering of the reproductive structures).