Sphaeropteris robusta

Sphaeropteris robusta
Young plant in the Jardin des Plantes in Paris
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Cyatheales
Family: Cyatheaceae
Genus: Sphaeropteris
Species:
S. robusta
Binomial name
Sphaeropteris robusta
(C.Moore ex Watts) R.M Tryon
Synonyms
  • Alsophila robusta C.Moore ex Watts
  • Cyathea robusta (C.Moore ex Maiden) Holttum
  • Alsophila robusta var. norfolkiana Laing

Sphaeropteris robusta, synonym Cyathea robusta, is a fern in the family Cyatheaceae. The specific epithet alludes to its robust habit.

Description

Trunk with stipes and young frond croziers

The plant is a treefern with a trunk growing up to 5 m in height; the stipe bases are variably persistent, with the lower trunk often clear with roundish scars.

Distribution and habitat

The fern is endemic to Australia’s subtropical Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea, where it has a scattered distribution through the southern mountains of the island at low to medium elevations. It is widespread in cultivation outside its natural range.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hassler, Michael & Schmitt, Bernd (June 2019). "Sphaeropteris robusta". Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World. Vol. 8. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  2. ↑ "Sphaeropteris robusta (Bojer ex Wall.) R.M.Tryon". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  3. 1 2 3 "Cyathea robusta". Flora of Australia Online. Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS). Retrieved 2014-01-29. Data derived from Flora of Australia 49 (1994).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)