English: King fern; Horseshoe fern.
Maori: Para; Tawhiti-para.
Region: Norfolk Island, New Zealand; South Pacific, New Caledonia, Cook Islands, Austral Islands,
Society Islands.
Habitat: forests, forest remnants; prefers limestone-rich soils, entrances to caves, shady stream sides.
Ecology: grows in association with
Elatostema rugosum, Ripogonum scandens; seriously threatened, by feral and domestic cattle, wild pigs and goatsm, plant collectors.
Use: traditional food for the Maori.
BotanyFern; large; robust; tropical appearance; up to 5 metres tall
Stem: starchy base
Leaves: glossy, dark green, 4 to 5 metres long, 2 metres wide; stalks green, cane-like, up to 1 to 3 metres long; young leaves are less robust, wilt quickly in sunlightare, protected by a large ear-shaped basal lobe at the base called a stipule.
Reproduction: difficult; may produce spores at any time in the year.