Cyathea caudata

Cyathea caudata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pteridophyta
Class:	Pteridopsida
Order:	Cyatheales
Family:	Cyatheaceae
Genus:	Cyathea
Subgenus:	Cyathea
Section:	Alsophila
Species:	C. caudata
Binomial name
Cyathea caudata (J. Smith ex W. J. Hooker) Copeland, 1906
Synonyms
Alsophila caudata J. Smith ex W. J. Hooker, 1841 Hemitelia caudata Mettenius, 1859 Cyathea brevipes Copeland, 1952 Cyathea arborescens Copeland, 1955

Cyathea caudata is a species of tree fern native to the islands of Luzon and Mindanao in the Philippines, where it grows in montane forest. The trunk is erect and up to 4 m tall or more. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and 1-2 m long. The stipe is warty and covered with dark, narrow, glossy scales. Sori are borne near the midvein of fertile pinnules and are protected by firm, brown indusia.

The closest relatives of C. caudata appear to be the smaller Cyathea edanoi and Cyathea heterochlamydea. Further study is needed to determine whether all three should be retained as separate species.

References

• Braggins, John E. & Large, Mark F. 2004. Tree Ferns. Timber Press, Inc., p. 111. ISBN 0-88192-630-2
• The International Plant Names Index: Cyathea caudata