| Gymnosphaera glabra | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Division: | Polypodiophyta |
| Class: | Polypodiopsida |
| Order: | Cyatheales |
| Family: | Cyatheaceae |
| Genus: | Gymnosphaera |
| Species: | G. glabra |
| Binomial name | |
| Gymnosphaera glabra Blume (1828) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Gymnosphaera glabra, synonyms Alsophila glabra and Cyathea glabra, [2] is a species of tree fern native to Borneo, western Java, Sumatra, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Sulawesi, and the Malay Peninsula, [1] 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. [3]
Large and Braggins (2004) noted that G. glabra is very similar to Gymnosphaera gigantea and appears to form part of a complex that also includes G. podophylla and G. subdubia . Further study is needed to determine the nature of the relationship between these taxa. [3]