Cyathea biformis

Cyathea biformis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pteridophyta
Class:	Pteridopsida
Order:	Cyatheales
Family:	Cyatheaceae
Genus:	Cyathea
Subgenus:	Cyathea
Section:	Alsophila
Species:	C. biformis
Binomial name
Cyathea biformis (Rosenstock) Copeland, 1911
Synonyms
Alsophila biformis Rosenstock, 1911

Cyathea biformis is a species of tree fern native to New Guinea and the Maluku Islands, where it grows against trees in mossy forest and rain forest at an altitude of 850-2200 m. The climbing trunk is very thin, only 1-2 cm in diameter, but can reach 3 m in height. The apex of the trunk is covered in scales. Two types of fronds are produced, simple pinnate fronds, which are sterile, and bipinnate fronds, which may be fertile. The stipe is smooth, glossy and very dark, almost to the point of being black. It is covered at the base with long, very dark scales that have a pale margin. Fertile pinnules are distinctly stalked and lobed. Sori occur in four pairs per pinnule lobe and lack indusia.

C. biformis is a very unusual species, being a climbing or scrambling fern with a very thin trunk. Plants often cling to supporting trees by their roots. The closest relative of this species appears to be Cyathea scandens, which differs only in the shape of its fertile pinnules. Further study is needed to determine whether the two are separate taxa or in fact represent the same species.

References

• Braggins, John E. & Large, Mark F. 2004. Tree Ferns. Timber Press, Inc., pp. 103-104. ISBN 0-88192-630-2
• The International Plant Names Index: Cyathea biformis