Gymnosphaera commutata

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Gymnosphaera commutata
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Cyatheales
Family: Cyatheaceae
Genus: Gymnosphaera
Species:
G. commutata
Binomial name
Gymnosphaera commutata
(Mett.) S.Y.Dong [1]
Synonyms [1]
  • Alsophila commutataMett.
  • Alsophila heteromorphaAlderw.
  • Alsophila heteromorpha var. decompositaAlderw.
  • Alsophila hewittii(Copel.) Alderw.
  • Alsophila squamulata(J.Sm.) Hook.
  • Alsophila subulataAlderw.
  • Cyathea heteromorpha(Alderw.) Domin
  • Cyathea hewittiiCopel.
  • Cyathea recommutataCopel.
  • Cyathea subulata(Alderw.) Domin
  • Cyathea toppingiiCopel.
  • Gymnosphaera hewittii(Copel.) Copel.
  • Gymnosphaera recommutata(Copel.) Copel.
  • Gymnosphaera squamulataJ.Sm., nom. illeg. hom.

Gymnosphaera commutata is a Malesian species of tree fern found in wet and swampy forests.

Contents

Description

The trunk is erect and rarely taller than 3 m. Fronds are bipinnate and 1–2 m long. Characteristically of this species, the lowest pair of pinnae are usually reduced and occur towards the base of the stipe. The stipe itself is dark and bears dark, glossy basal scales with thin, fragile edges. Fertile pinnules are notably smaller than sterile ones. Sori occur near the fertile pinnule midvein and lack indusia. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Gymnosphaera commutata is native to the Malay Peninsula, central and southern Sumatra and Borneo, where it grows in acidic peaty or sandy soils in wet forest, as well as swamp forest, from sea level to an elevation of 1,500 metres (4,900 ft).

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Alsophila alleniae, synonym Cyathea alleniae, is a species of tree fern native to the Malay Peninsula, where it grows in forest margin on steep ground at an altitude of approximately 1200 m. The trunk is erect, about 4 m tall and 15 cm in diameter. It is usually unbranched, but may branch to form several small crowns. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and 1–2 m long. The stipe is spiny at the base and at least partially covered by scales. Typically of Alsophila species, these scales are dark brown, glossy, and have fragile edges. Sori occur near the midvein of fertile pinnules and are covered by firm, brown indusia that resemble scales in appearance.

Alsophila amboinensis, synonym Cyathea amboinensis, is a species of tree fern native to the Maluku Islands and possibly central and southern Sulawesi, where it grows in swamp and forest at low elevations. This species has an erect trunk, usually 2–4 m tall. Fronds are 1–2 m long and bi- or tripinnate. The stipe is warty near the base and covered with scattered scales that are dark, glossy, and have fragile edges. Sori occur near the midvein of fertile pinnules and are covered by small, dark indusia which resemble small scales.

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Alsophila annae, synonym Cyathea annae, is a species of tree fern native to Ambon in the Maluku Islands, where it grows in forest from sea level to about 650 m. The erect trunk is slender and may be as tall as 3 m. Fronds are bipinnate and 1–2 m in length. Characteristically of this species, the final pair of pinnae are usually reduced and occur towards the base of the stipe. The stipe is dark, slender and covered with scattered scales. These are dark, glossy and have a pale dull margin. Fertile pinnules are normally short-lobed. Sori lack indusia and occur two to four per pinnule lobe.

Alsophila apiculata, synonym Cyathea apiculata, is a species of tree fern native to Sumatra, where it grows in montane rain forest at an altitude of about 1800 m. The trunk is erect and usually 5 m tall or more. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and 2–3 m long. The stipe is pale, becoming darker towards the base. It is covered with dark scales with pale, fragile edges. Sori occur near the midvein of fertile pinnules and are covered by thin, very fragile indusia.

Alsophila atropurpurea, synonym Cyathea atropurpurea, is a species of tree fern native to the islands of Luzon, Mindanao, Leyte and Mindanao in the Philippines, where it grows in forest at above 1000 m. The erect trunk is slender and may be up to 3 m tall. Fronds are bipinnate and 1–2 m long. Characteristically of this species, the final pair of pinnae are usually reduced and occur towards the base of the stipe. These, along with the stipe bases, are persistent and retained around the trunk long after withering. The stipe itself is dark and covered with scales, which are either small, dull and brown or large, dark and glossy. Sori occur near the midvein of fertile pinnules and lack indusia. Fertile pinnules are notably smaller than sterile ones.

Alsophila biformis, synonym Cyathea biformis, is a species of tree fern native to New Guinea and the Maluku Islands, where it grows against trees in mossy forest and rain forest at an altitude of 850–2200 m. The climbing trunk is very thin, only 1–2 cm in diameter, but can reach 3 m in height. The apex of the trunk is covered in scales. Two types of fronds are produced, simple pinnate fronds, which are sterile, and bipinnate fronds, which may be fertile. The stipe is smooth, glossy and very dark, almost to the point of being black. It is covered at the base with long, very dark scales that have a pale margin. Fertile pinnules are distinctly stalked and lobed. Sori occur in four pairs per pinnule lobe and lack indusia.

Alsophila callosa, synonym Cyathea callosa, is a species of tree fern endemic to Luzon in the Philippines, where it grows in midmontane forest. The trunk is erect and about 3 m tall or more. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and 1–2 m long. The stipe is spiny and covered with scattered scales that are dark and have pale, fragile edges. Sori occur near the midvein of fertile pinnules and are covered by thin, pale indusia.

Alsophila costularis, synonyms Cyathea chinensis and Sphaeropteris chinensis, is a species of tree fern native to Yunnan in China, Sikkim in India, as well as Nepal, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. Plants grow in forest and montane forest at an altitude of 900–1800 m. The trunk is erect and 1–2 m tall. Fronds are bipinnate and 1–2 m long. The stipe is either long and warty or has short spines towards the base as well as scattered glossy dark brown scales with fragile edges. Sori occur near the midvein of fertile pinnules and are covered by thin indusia.

Alsophila costalisora, synonym 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.

Alsophila cucullifera, synonym 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.

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Gymnosphaera glabra, synonyms Alsophila glabra and Cyathea glabra, is a species of tree fern native to Borneo, western Java, Sumatra, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Sulawesi, and the Malay Peninsula, where it grows in lowland swamp forest and montane forest at an elevation of up to 1500 m. The trunk of this plant is erect and 2–4 m tall. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and 1–2 m in length. Characteristically of this species, the lowest pinnae may be significantly reduced. The stipe is very dark and bears basal scales. These scales are dark, glossy and have a paler margin and fragile edges. Sori are produced in groups of one to three on fertile pinnule veins. They lack indusia.

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References

  1. 1 2 Hassler, Michael (19 January 2023). "Gymnosphaera commutata". Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World. 14.1. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  2. Large, Mark F. & Braggins, John E. (2004). Tree Ferns. Timber Press. p.  251. ISBN   978-0-88192-630-9.