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Scaly Tree Fern
Photo:
Courtesy of
Damon Ramsey
Scaly Tree Fern: Cyanthea
cooperi
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The most commonly seen tree fern at Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges .
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There are seven species of tree
ferns in the Wet Tropics, three of them endemic.
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Although all seven are found in
the uplands, only two, the scaly, or Cooper’s, tree fern (Cyanthea
cooperi) and black tree fern (Cyanthea rebeccae) are found in the
tropical lowlands.
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The most common and most
widespread, the scaly tree fern, is also the largest, growing to a height of
15m with a 30 cm thick trunk.
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The trunk is patterned with large
oval scars left by fallen fronds. It is hardy and often grown in gardens.
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Unlike conifers and other advanced
trees, tree ferns are not capable of producing secondary timber.
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This means that their trunks
cannot become thicker, growth occurring only from the top.
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The trunk is pithy on the inside
but hard on the outside and is often covered with a mass of tough aerial
roots.
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If the tree fern is knocked
over these can grow into the ground and develop as normal roots.
Courtesy of:
Environmental Protection Agency, Cairns.
Also known as the ‘Scaly tree fern’, it is
characterized by the following:
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Trunk up to 15 cm in diameter and
to 12 m or more tall, thickened at the base and patterned throughout with
large oval, clean-cut scars left by fallen fronds.
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Stipe bases brown, tuberculate,
covered by long, white and short, red-brown scales.
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Fronds up to 6 m long, green
above, paler beneath.
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Sori orbicular, surrounded by
circular indusia, each made up of scales.
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It is a very handsome,
fast-growing species, which is extremely popular in cultivation.
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The apex of the trunk and
unfurling crosiers are particularly attractive, covered as they are with
conspicuous long, silky, white scales.
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Specimens from northern Queensland
have less persistent scales.
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Some extremely robust specimens
are occasionally encountered in north-eastern Qld.
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These closely resemble the Norfolk
Island C. brownii in all respects.
Confusing
species:
Distinguishing
Features:
Distribution:
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Qld
(from Cooktown South), NSW (as far South as the Illawarra district).
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Naturalized in WA (Bedfordale).
Cultivation:
Jones.
D.L, Clemesha. S.C., Australian Ferns and Fern Allies, 1980
Additional
Information: Damon Ramsey
Tree Ferns:
Amongst the prettiest of ferns are the 'tree ferns' belonging to several
different families, but mainly Cyatheaceae in the coastal lowlands. They are
true ferns that grow a single tall stalk, like a tree, thus the common name.
Being attractive means they often serve as a symbol for the tropical rainforests
around the world, but can in fact be just as common in the cooler subtropical
and temperate rainforests of the southern hemisphere.
Most of the tree ferns around the warmer coastal lowlands will belong to the
genus Cyathea, with 'Rebecca's Tree Fern', Cyathea rebeccae being
particularly common. This rather thin tree fern often retains the old branches
that hang down as thin brown straps underneath the current green fronds.
Script:
Courtesy of Damon
Ramsey BSc.(Zool)
Biologist Guide
Additional
Scaly Tree Fern Photos
Additional Scaly Tree Fern
Photo 2
Additional Scaly Tree Fern Photo 3 |
