Synonym: Dicksonia culcita; Balantium culcita.
English: Woolly tree fern.
Region: Macaronesia; Spain, Portugsl, Azores, Madeira.
Habitat: siliceous rocky slopes; in deep valleys under evergreen forest, near coastal areas, in scrubland up to 1100 metres altitude; usually close to waterfalls or streams; requires shade and warm temperatures all year round, high atmospheric humidity to flourish; grows in all types of soils except limestone substrates.
Ecology: critically endangered, by fire.
BotanyFern; large; up to 2 metres tall.
Root: rhizomes, thickly coated with long silky, light brown hairs.
Leaves: large, up to 2 metres long; stipes are one third of the blade length; glabrous stabs and rachis; shiny green, leathery, triangular blade on top; serums are protected by the blade's curved lobes.