Alsophila erinacea

Alsophila erinacea, synonym Cyathea erinacea,[1] is a species of tree fern native to Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.[2]

Alsophila erinacea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Cyatheales
Family: Cyatheaceae
Genus: Alsophila
Species:
A. erinacea
Binomial name
Alsophila erinacea
(H.Karst.) D.S.Conant[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Cyathea erinacea H.Karst.
  • Cyathea aureonitens Christ
  • Cyathea cuspidata var. rigida Rosenst.
  • Cyathea portoricensis Christ
  • Cyathea purpurascens Sodiro
  • Nephelea aureonitens (Christ) R.M.Tryon
  • Nephelea erinacea (H.Karst.) R.M.Tryon
  • Nephelea purpurascens (Sodiro) R.M.Tryon

It grows in tropical rain forests, particularly in the understory, and on riverbanks up to the montane zone at an altitude of about 800โ€“2,100 metres (2,600โ€“6,900 ft).[2]

Description

The erect trunk of Alsophila erinacea is up to 15 metres (49 ft) tall, 7โ€“10 cm in diameter and has black spines. The arching fronds are bipinnate, up to 3.5 m long and form a sparse crown. The rachis and stipe are scaly and may be either straw-coloured or brown to dark brown. The scales are bicoloured, having a dark brown to blackish centre and pale whitish margin, as well as a terminal seta. Characteristically of this species, pinnule veins bear whitish scales with star-shaped setae. Sori are round and form on either side of the pinnule midvein. They are covered by globose indusia.[2]

References

  1. Hassler, Michael & Schmitt, Bernd (June 2019). "Alsophila erinacea". Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World (version 8.02). Archived from the original on 2017-09-02. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  2. Large, Mark F. & Braggins, John E. (2004). Tree Ferns. Timber Press. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-88192-630-9.


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