Cyathea cucullifera

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

Cyathea cucullifera is a species of tree fern native to eastern New Guinea, where it grows in montane forest at an altitude of about 2400 m. The trunk is erect and 2-3 m tall. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and 2-3 m long. Characteristically of this species, they occur in two whorls of four to six fronds each. The stipe is warty and covered with scales. The scales are dark, glossy, have a narrow paler margin and are large towards the base. Sori occur near the fertile pinnule midvein and are covered by thin, pale brown indusia that are scale-like in appearance.

References

• Braggins, John E. & Large, Mark F. 2004. Tree Ferns. Timber Press, Inc., p. 118. ISBN 0-88192-630-2
• The International Plant Names Index: Cyathea cucullifera