Cyathea leichhardtiana

Prickly Tree Fern
Royal National Park, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pteridophyta
Class:	Pteridopsida
Order:	Cyatheales
Family:	Cyatheaceae
Genus:	Cyathea
Species:	C. leichhardtiana
Binomial name
Cyathea leichhardtiana (F.Muell.) Copel.

Cyathea leichhardtiana, the Prickly Tree Fern is a plant found in eastern Australia. A common species found in moist situations, in and near rainforests. Named in honour of the explorer and botanical collector Ludwig Leichhardt.^[1]

Seen between one and seven metres tall, it may be identified by the thin, prickly trunk, 5 to 15 cm wide. The sori lack true indusia, the base of the sorus bears a ring of scales. Fronds are up to 3 metres long, and the stipe is around 20 cm in length.

References

1. ^ Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, ISBN 9780731812110 page 309