Cyathea fenicis

Cyathea fadenii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pteridophyta
Class:	Pteridopsida
Order:	Cyatheales
Family:	Cyatheaceae
Genus:	Cyathea
Subgenus:	Cyathea
Section:	Alsophila
Species:	C. fenicis
Binomial name
Cyathea fenicis Copeland, 1909
Synonyms
Alsophila fenicis (Copeland) C. Christensen, 1913 (non Alsophila fenicis Posthumus, 1942; quae Cyathea elmeri) Alsophila fujiiana Nakai, 1927 Cyathea fujiiana (Nakai) Tagawa, 1951

Cyathea fenicis is a species of tree fern native to the Philippines, Taiwan, and Orchid Island, where it grows in wet forest, forest margins and on hillsides. The trunk is erect, up to 1 m tall and about 6 cm in diameter. Fronds are tripinnate and 1.5-2 m long. Characteristically of this species, the lowest pinnae are usually reduced. The stipe is spiny and ranges in colour from brown to purple-dark brown. It bears two types of scales: long dark brown scales as well as minute brown ones. Occasionally the scales are pale. Sori are round and arranged in two rows, one on either side of the pinnule midvein. They are covered by very small indusia that resemble scales in appearance.

Cyathea fujiiana is a junior synonym of this taxon. The type material of C. fujiiana was collected by Sasaki on Orchid Island in May 1924.

The specific epithet fenicis commemorates Eugenio Fénix (1883-1939), who collected the type specimen on Batan Island in the Philippines. This material was destroyed in the Manila herbarium during World War II.

References

• Braggins, John E. & Large, Mark F. 2004. Tree Ferns. Timber Press, Inc., p. 132. ISBN 0-88192-630-2
• The International Plant Names Index: Cyathea fenicis
• 臺灣植物概況 - Vascular Plants, p. 61