Cyathea brevipinna

Cyathea brevipinna
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pteridophyta
Class:	Pteridopsida
Order:	Cyatheales
Family:	Cyatheaceae
Genus:	Cyathea
Subgenus:	Cyathea
Section:	Alsophila
Species:	C. brevipinna
Binomial name
Cyathea brevipinna Baker ex Bentham, 1878
Synonyms
Alsophila brevipinna (Baker ex Bentham) Tryon, 1970 Cyathea brevipinnata (Baker ex Bentham) J. E. Braggins & M. F. Large orth. var., 2004

Cyathea brevipinna is a species of tree fern endemic to the higher parts of Mount Gower (875 m) on Lord Howe Island, where it grows in exposed areas at an altitude of about 790 m. The trunk is erect and may reach 3 m in height. It is often covered with reddish brown scales and stipe bases. This species may produce stolons at ground level. Fronds are tripinnate, densely crowded, and up to about 3 m long. The stipe is brown and sometimes warty after scales fall off. The scales are long, glossy dark brown, with a distinctly narrow apex and fragile paler edges. Sori are attached to deeply divided fertile pinnules that may uncurl over the sori. Indusia are firm and large. C. brevipinna is a stunted plant with short pinnae.

Reportedly, only one plant survives outside of its native habitat. No one is known to have successfully raised C. brevipinna from spores.

References

• Braggins, John E. & Large, Mark F. 2004. Tree Ferns. Timber Press, Inc., p. 106. ISBN 0-88192-630-2
• Cold-Hardy Tree Ferns: Cyathea brevipinna
• The International Plant Names Index: Cyathea brevipinna