Cyathea aneitensis

Cyathea aneitensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pteridophyta
Class:	Pteridopsida
Order:	Cyatheales
Family:	Cyatheaceae
Genus:	Cyathea
Subgenus:	Cyathea
Section:	Alsophila
Species:	C. aneitensis
Binomial name
Cyathea aneitensis W. J. Hooker, 1865
Synonyms
Alsophila aneitensis (W. J. Hooker) Tryon, 1970 Cyathea laciniata Copeland, 1931

Cyathea aneitensis is a species of tree fern native to Vanuatu and possibly New Caledonia. This species has an erect trunk up to 3 m tall. Fronds are bipinnate and may reach 2 m in length. The rachis and stipe are either very dark and smooth or have a few scales towards the base of the stipe. The scales are dark and narrow. Sori occur near the pinnule midvein and are covered by large, thin, fragile indusia. The closest relative of C. aneitensis appears to be Cyathea vieillardii. It can be distinguished from that species by its very dark stipes and frond bases.

The specific epithet aneitensis refers to Aneityum (now called Anatom), the southernmost main island of Vanuatu.

References

• Braggins, John E. & Large, Mark F. 2004. Tree Ferns. Timber Press, Inc., p. 95. ISBN 0-88192-630-2
• The International Plant Names Index: Cyathea aneitensis