Cyathea
Cyathea medullaris growing in New Zealand
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Pteridophyta Class: Pteridopsida Order: Cyatheales Family: Cyatheaceae Genus: Cyathea J. E. Smith, 1793
Subgenera and sections
Subgenus Cyathea Alsophila Cyathea Subgenus Sphaeropteris Sphaeropteris
Synonyms
Acanthea Lindig, 1861 Alsophila R. Brown, 1810 Amphicosmia Gardner, 1842 Chlamydia Moore, 1857 Chnoophora Kaulfuss, 1824 Cormiophyllum Newman, 1856 Cyatheopsis Karsten, 1858 Dichorexia Presl, 1847 Dicranophlebia Martius, 1834 Disphenia Presl, 1836 Eatoniopteris Bommer, 1873 Eleutheria Kunze, 1844 Fourniera Bommer, 1873 Gymnopremnon Lindig, 1861 Gymnosphaera Blume, 1828 Halophlebia Martius, 1834 Nephelea Tryon, 1970 Notocarpia Presl, 1836 Notophoria Presl, 1848 Sarcopholis Schizocaena W. J. Hooker, 1838 Schizocaena J. E. Smith, 1838 Sclephropteris P. G. Windisch Sphaeropteris Bernhardi, 1801 Thysanobotrya Alderwerelt, 1918 Trachypremnon Lindig, 1861 Trichipteris Presl, 1822 Trichopteris Spreng., orth. var.

Cyathea is a genus of tree ferns, the type genus of the fern order Cyatheales. They are mostly terrestrial ferns, usually with a single tall stem. Rarely, the trunk may be branched or creeping. Many species also develop a fibrous mass of roots at the base of the trunk. The genus has a pantropical distribution, with over 470 species. They grow in habitats ranging from tropical rain forests to temperate woodlands.

The genus name Cyathea is derived from the Greek kyatheion, meaning "little cup", and refers to the cup-shaped sori on the underside of the fronds.

The best known species include:

• Cyathea brownii, the Norfolk Tree Fern
• Cyathea cooperi, the Australian Tree Fern or Lacy Tree Fern
• Cyathea dealbata, the Silver Tree Fern
• Cyathea medullaris, the New Zealand Black Tree Fern

Classification

The classification below follows the findings of Conant et al. in 1996^{citation needed}. Conant concluded, based on molecular cpDNA and morphological evidence, that a system of three clades — Alsophila, Cyathea and Sphaeropteris, whereby Alsophila is most basal and Cyathea and Sphaeropteris are derived sister groups — is the most accurate reflection of evolutionary lineages within the Cyatheaceae.

Uncertain or dubious taxa

• Alsophila crassa Karsten, 1869
• Cyathea affinis M. Martens & Galeotti, 1842

Misassigned taxa

• Cyathea abitaguensis (Domin) Domin, 1930 = Cnemidaria uleana
• Cyathea antillana Domin, 1930 = Cnemidaria grandifolia
• Cyathea aristata Domin, 1930 = Cnemidaria apiculata
• Cyathea choricarpa (Maxon) Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria choricarpa
• Cyathea commutata Sprengel, 1804 = Cnemidaria horrida
• Cyathea decurrentiloba Domin, 1930 = Cnemidaria decurrens
• Cyathea elegantissima (Fée) Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria decurrens
• Cyathea ewanii Alston, 1958 = Cnemidaria ewanii
• Cyathea grandifolia Willdenow, 1810 = Cnemidaria grandifolia
• Cyathea grandis (Maxon) Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria mutica
• Cyathea guatemalensis (Maxon) Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria decurrens
• Cyathea horrida (Linnaeus) J. E. Smith, 1793 = Cnemidaria horrida
• Cyathea imrayana (W. J. Hooker) Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria grandifolia
• Cyathea karsteniana Klotzsch, 1852 = Cnemidaria karsteniana
• Cyathea kohautiana (Presl) Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria grandifolia
• Cyathea leprieurii (Kunze) Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria cruciata
• Cyathea liebmannii Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria decurrens
• Cyathea lucida (Fée) Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria decurrens
• Cyathea minita Kaulfuss, 1824 = Cnemidaria grandifolia
• Cyathea mutica (Christ) Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria mutica
• Cyathea obtusa (Kaulfuss) Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria grandifolia
• Cyathea roraimensis (Domin) Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria roraimensis
• Cyathea spectabilis (Kunze) Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria spectabilis
  • Cyathea spectabilis var. colombiensis Stolze, 1974 = Cnemidaria spectabilis var. colombiensis
  • Cyathea spectabilis var. longipinna (Domin) Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria spectabilis var. spectabilis
  • Cyathea spectabilis var. trinitensis (Domin) Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria spectabilis var. spectabilis
• Cyathea subarborescens Domin, 1930 = Cnemidaria uleana
• Cyathea subincisa (Kunze) Domin, 1929 = Cnemidaria speciosa

Notes

1. ^ Cyathea gardneri (W. J. Hooker) Lellinger 1987, not C. gardneri W. J. Hooker 1844.
2. ^ Cyathea microphylla (Klotzsch) Tryon 1970, not C. microphylla Mettenius 1856.
3. ^ Cyathea parva (Maxon) Tryon 1976, not C. parva Copeland 1942.

References

• Large, M.F. and J.E. Braggins 2004. Tree Ferns. Timber Press, Inc. ISBN 0-88192-630-2
• The International Plant Names Index

External links

• Cyathea: World Species List
• Alsophila: World Species List
• Sphaeropteris: World Species List
• Community: Care and propagation of Treeferns (German/English)