Tree Fern
With a height of 20 m Mamakus are the tallest tree ferns of New Zealand. They even grow in regions with frequent nighttime frost. This differs them from their 900 related recent species because these usually grow in the tropics. In contrast to normal trees, these ancient ferns have no bark nor branches and no distinctive systems of roots.
March 2001
Pentax MZ5, Pentax 50mm, f/22, 1/4sec, Kodak Ektachrome E6, ISO 100, polarization filter, tripod