Cyathea geluensis

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Cyathea geluensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pteridophyta
Class: Pteridopsida
Order: Cyatheales
Family: Cyatheaceae
Genus: Cyathea
Subgenus: Cyathea
Section: Alsophila
Species:C. geluensis
Binomial name
Cyathea geluensis
Rosenstock, 1908
Synonyms
  • Alsophila geluensis(Rosenstock) Tryon, 1970
  • Cyathea novoguineensisBrause, 1912
  • Cyathea sepikensisBrause, 1912

Cyathea geluensis is a species of tree fern native to central and eastern New Guinea as well as the Louisiade Archipelago, where it grows in mossy forest. In New Guinea itself, plants grow at an altitude of 1000–2000 m, however they are present at lower elevations of 700–900 m on associated islands. The trunk of this tree fern is erect and may be 5 m tall or more. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and 1-2.5 m long. They are usually about ten live fronds present in the crown at once. The stipe may be warty and/or have short spines as well as many scattered scales towards the base. These scales are pale to dark and have dull, fragile edges. Sori occur near the fertile pinnule midvein and are protected by pale, thin indusia. C. geluensis is a variable taxon and further study is needed to determine whether it does not in fact represent a species complex.

Cyatheales order of plants

The order Cyatheales, which includes the tree ferns, is a taxonomic division of the fern class, Polypodiopsida. No clear morphological features characterize all of the Cyatheales, but DNA sequence data indicate the order is monophyletic. Some species in the Cyatheales have tree-like growth forms, but others have rhizomes.

New Guinea Island in the Pacific Ocean

New Guinea is a large island separated by a shallow sea from the rest of the Australian continent. It is the world's second-largest, after Greenland, covering a land area of 785,753 km2 (303,381 sq mi), and the largest wholly or partly within the Southern Hemisphere and Oceania.

Louisiade Archipelago archipelago of Papua New Guinea

The Louisiade Archipelago is a string of ten larger volcanic islands frequently fringed by coral reefs, and 90 smaller coral islands in Papua New Guinea.

Large and Braggins (2004) note that the specific epithet geluensis probably refers to the island of Jalun or Gelun.

An epithet is a byname, or a descriptive term, accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It can also be a descriptive title: for example, Pallas Athena, Alfred the Great, Suleiman the Magnificent or Władysław I the Elbow-high.

Related Research Articles

Cyathea albidosquamata is a species of tree fern native to the Maluku Islands and New Guinea, where it grows in rain forest and montane forest at an altitude of 1200–1500 m. The trunk is erect and about 2 m tall. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and 1-1.5 m in length. The lower surface of the rachis is covered in scales and the stipe has scattered scales throughout its length. These are glossy and pale, with dull, fragile edges. Sori occur near the fertile pinnule midvein and have flat indusia which resemble small saucers.

Cyathea coactilis is a rare species of tree fern known only from the southern highlands of Papua New Guinea, where it grows in alpine shrubland at an altitude of about 3000 m. The trunk is erect and 2–3 m tall. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and usually 1–2 m long. Characteristically of this species, they occur in two whorls of about ten fronds each. The underside of the rachis is covered with small, pale scales. The stipe is covered with pale scales that have dark, narrow and fragile edges. Sori are round and are covered by thin indusia that are cup-like in appearance. They occur near the fertile pinnule midvein.

<i>Cyathea colensoi</i> species of plant

Cyathea colensoi, also known as the Creeping Tree Fern, Mountain Tree Fern and Golden Tree Fern, is a species of tree fern native to New Zealand, from the southern part of the North Island south to Stewart Island. It grows in submontane to montane forest in damp areas, particularly near the tree line. The trunk is usually prostrate, but may sometimes be erect. It may reach about 1 m in height. Fronds are tripinnate and about 1.5 m long or more. The rachis and stipe are slender, pale brown and are covered with brown scales. Sori occur in two rows, one along each side of the fertile pinnule midvein, and lack indusia. Plants form a thicket with no sign of a trunk.

Cyathea costalisora is a species of tree fern native to western New Guinea, where it grows on the edges of forest and in moist hollows at an altitude of 1900–3225 m. The trunk is erect, up to 4 m tall and may branch near the base. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and 1-1.5 m long. The stipe is warty, especially where scales have fallen. The scales are pale and have a distinctive dark glossy central region, with a paler dull margin. Sori are round and occur near the fertile pinnule midvein. They are covered by firm, dark indusia that are cup-like in appearance.

Cyathea cucullifera is a species of tree fern native to eastern New Guinea, where it grows in montane forest at an altitude of about 2400 m. The trunk is erect and 2–3 m tall. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and 2–3 m long. Characteristically of this species, they occur in two whorls of four to six fronds each. The stipe is warty and covered with scales. The scales are dark, glossy, have a narrow paler margin and are large towards the base. Sori occur near the fertile pinnule midvein and are covered by thin, pale brown indusia that are scale-like in appearance.

Cyathea dicksonioides is a species of tree fern native to northeastern New Guinea, where it grows in grassland at an altitude of 2600–2900 m. It is a relatively uncommon species. The erect trunk may be 3 m tall or more and about 20 cm in diameter. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and approximately 1 m long. They are erect and bristly, forming an irregular crown. The fronds occur in two whorls of 10-12 fronds each, with the inner of the two whorls bending downward towards the trunk. The stipe is covered with glossy scales that have narrow, pale and fragile edges. Two to four sori occur per fertile pinnule. They are covered by firm, pale indusia that are hood-like in appearance.

Cyathea eriophora is a species of tree fern native to eastern New Guinea, where it grows in wet ravine forest at an altitude of 1400–2000 m. The trunk is erect and 2–3 m tall. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and 2–3 m long. The stipe is dark and covered with spines and scales. The scales are variable, being either small and pale or large with a dark apex. Sori occur near the fertile pinnule midvein and lack indusia.

Cyathea everta is a species of tree fern native to western New Guinea, where it grows in the edges of forest or in mossy forest at an altitude of 1400–2800 m. The trunk is erect and up to 5 m tall. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and 1-1.5 m long. Numerous fronds are present at any one time and form a dense crown. The stipe has some spines towards the base and is covered in scales. The scales are pale or dark, glossy and have pale fringed edges. Sori occur near the fertile pinnule midvein. They are round and covered by thin, brown indusia that are cup-like in appearance.

Cyathea ferruginea is a species of tree fern endemic to the Philippines.

Cyathea foersteri is a species of tree fern native to eastern New Guinea, where it grows in scrub in forest margins and mossy forest at an altitude of 1600–2800 m. The trunk is erect and up to 10 m tall. Fronds may be bi- or tripinnate and 2-2.5 m long. Usually around nine or ten live fronds are present in the crown at once. The stipe is covered in pale scales. Sori occur near the fertile pinnule midvein and are protected by firm, thin indusia.

Cyathea gigantea is a species of tree fern native to northeastern to southern India, Sri Lanka, Nepal to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, the Malay Peninsula, as well as central Sumatra and western Java. It grows in moist open areas at an altitude of 600–1000 m. The trunk of this species is erect and may be as tall as 5 m or more. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and usually 2–3 m long. The rachis is long, dark to black in colouration and rough in appearance after the fall of scales. These scales are dark brown, glossy and have a narrow paler margin and fragile edges. Sori are round and indusia absent.

Cyathea gleichenioides is a species of tree fern endemic to New Guinea, where it grows in open peaty grassland and on forest margins, often in groups, at an altitude of 2800–3700 m. The trunk of this plant is erect, up to 3 m tall and about 24 cm in diameter. The narrow fronds are tripinnate and about 1 m in length. Around 60 fronds form a rounded crown.The stipe is warty and bears scattered scales towards the base. These scales may be either glossy brown with a paler dull margin, or small, pale and fringed. Sori occur one or two per fertile pinnule and are protected by firm, brown indusia.

Cyathea gregaria is a species of tree fern endemic to eastern New Guinea, where it grows in lowland forest and coastal rain forest, often forming clumps, at an elevation of up to 100 m. The trunk of this plant is erect and usually 4–5 m tall and about 10 cm in diameter. Fronds may be bi- or tripinnate and 2–3 m in length. The stipe bears spines, but has few scales. These scales are medium brown in colouration and have a paler margin. Sori occur near the fertile pinnule midvein and lack indusia.

Cyathea heterochlamydea is a little-known species of tree fern native to the islands of Luzon, Panay, Negros and Mindanao in the Philippines, where it grows in montane forest. The trunk of this plant is erect and usually up to 4 m tall or more. Fronds may be bi- or tripinnate and 1–2 m in length. The stipe is warty and/or bears short spines and scales. These scales are dark, glossy and have a narrow pale margin. Sori are borne near the fertile pinnule midvein and are protected by firm, brown indusia.

Cyathea hooglandii is a species of tree fern native to the Western Highlands of New Guinea, where it grows in mossy forest at an altitude of about 3000 m. The trunk of this plant is erect, up to 3 m tall and approximately 10 cm in diameter. Fronds are tripinnate, 1–2 m in length and produced in two whorls of five to seven each. The stipe may be dull and warty or densely covered with scales. These scales range in colour from dark to medium brown and have a broad, paler margin as well as fragile edges. Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of this species are its sori, which are borne singly at the base of each tertiary pinnule on the midvein. They are protected by firm indusia that are saucer-like in appearance.

Cyathea hornei is a species of tree fern. Its natural distribution covers eastern New Guinea and the Louisiade Archipelago to Fiji, where it grows in wet submontane forest, stunted forest, mossy forest, and on ridges, at an altitude of 400–2000 m. The trunk of this plant is erect, 3–4 m tall and up to about 4 cm in diameter. Fronds may be pinnate or bipinnate and reach a length of 2 m. Basal scales cover the dark rachis and stipe of this species. These scales are glossy and either bicoloured or light brown and bullate. Sori almost cover the lower segments of fertile pinnules. Indusia are absent.

Cyathea horridula is a species of tree fern native to western New Guinea, where it grows in montane forest at an altitude of approximately 1700 m. It is a rare plant known only from the type locality. This plant has an erect trunk up to 3 m tall or more. Fronds may be bi- or tripinnate and 1–2 m in length. The stipe is covered with spines and bears scattered scales towards the base. These scales are pale and have fragile edges. Sori are borne near the fertile pinnule midvein. They are protected by small, dark brown indusia that are saucer-like in appearance.

Cyathea imbricata is a species of tree fern endemic to Western New Guinea, where it grows in open forest at an altitude of 3240 m. The trunk of this plant is erect and approximately 2 m tall. Fronds may be bi- or tripinnate and are usually less than 1 m in length. The stipe is dark, spiny, and covered with caducous scales. These scales are glossy brown in colouration and have a paler margin and fragile edges. Sori are borne in groups of one to four per pinnule lobe. They are protected by firm indusia.

Cyathea insulana is a species of tree fern native to New Guinea, where it grows in mossy forest and ravines at an altitude of 750–1600 m. The trunk of this species is erect, 8–10 m tall, and 14 cm in diameter. Fronds may be bi- or tripinnate and approximately 3 m in length. They form a spreading crown. The stipe bears thick spines as well as scales. These scales are either small, pale brown, with a short fringe, or large and glossy brown, with fragile edges. Sori are borne near the fertile pinnule midvein. They are protected by thin, pale indusia.

Cyathea ledermannii is a species of tree fern native to Papua New Guinea and Bougainville Province in the Solomon Islands, where it is common in submontane rain forest at an altitude of 1000–3000 m. The trunk of this plant is erect and grows to about 3 m in height. Fronds may be bi- or tripinnate and up to 2 m in length. The rachis is purplish brown in colouration and usually bears basal scales. These scales range from pale, to brown, to bicoloured. Sori are borne on each side of the pinnule midvein. They are protected by firm indusia.

References

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