Cyathea decrescens

Cyathea decrescens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pteridophyta
Class:	Pteridopsida
Order:	Cyatheales
Family:	Cyatheaceae
Genus:	Cyathea
Subgenus:	Cyathea
Section:	Alsophila
Species:	C. decrescens
Binomial name
Cyathea decrescens Mettenius
Synonyms
Alsophila decrescens (Mettenius in Kuhn) Tryon, 1970 Cyathea hirsutifrons C. Christensen, 1905 Cyathea hirsutifolia Bonaparte, 1917 (publ. 1920)

Cyathea decrescens is a species of tree fern endemic to Madagascar. The trunk is erect, 2-3 m tall and 10-12 cm in diameter. It usually has characteristic elliptical scars caused by fallen stipe bases. Fronds are bipinnate and 1-1.5 m long. The fronds may be densely pubescent and the lower pinnules are sometimes separated from the others as well as being reduced. The rachis and stipe are brown in colouration and bear narrow, dark brown scales. Sori are large, round and covered by fragile, brown indusia.

References

• Braggins, John E. & Large, Mark F. 2004. Tree Ferns. Timber Press, Inc., p. 122. ISBN 0-88192-630-2
• The International Plant Names Index: Cyathea decrescens