The 81 bryophyte species on Dicksonia antarctica represent
an exceptionally high species richness for a single
host species. The 52 bryophyte species on Cyathea
cunninghamii is less than would be found on a comparable
sample of D. antarctica (approx. 64 species;
Table 2), but this is still among the most species rich
host-types known for bryophytic epiphytes. In comparison,
Dalton (1998a) found 55 bryophyte species
on the lower 2 m of 37 trunks of Nothofagus cunninghamii
from 12 sites in western Tasmania, Mazimpaka
and Lara (1995) identified 52 bryophytes on Quercus
pyrenaica in Mediterranean deciduous woodland in
Spain, and Franks and Bergstrom (2000) found 43
species on 25 trunks of Nothofagus moorei in southeastern
Queensland. Beever (1984) recorded 32
moss species on Cyathea medullaris in New Zealand
compared to 43 species recorded in this study on
D. antarctica. However, Beever (1984) sampled less
than half as many trunks as this study and did not
count hepatics. Thus, this New Zealand tree-fern may
host at least as many bryophytes as the Tasmanian
tree-ferns.