Cyathea coactilis

Cyathea coactilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pteridophyta
Class:	Pteridopsida
Order:	Cyatheales
Family:	Cyatheaceae
Genus:	Cyathea
Subgenus:	Cyathea
Section:	Alsophila
Species:	C. coactilis
Binomial name
Cyathea coactilis Holttum, 1962
Synonyms
Alsophila coactilis (Holttum) Tryon, 1970

Cyathea coactilis is a rare species of tree fern known only from the southern highlands of Papua New Guinea, where it grows in alpine shrubland at an altitude of about 3000 m. The trunk is erect and 2-3 m tall. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and usually 1-2 m long. Characteristically of this species, they occur in two whorls of about ten fronds each. The underside of the rachis is covered with small, pale scales. The stipe is covered with pale scales that have dark, narrow and fragile edges. Sori are round and are covered by thin indusia that are cup-like in appearance. They occur near the fertile pinnule midvein.

References

• Braggins, John E. & Large, Mark F. 2004. Tree Ferns. Timber Press, Inc., p. 113. ISBN 0-88192-630-2
• The International Plant Names Index: Cyathea coactilis