Sphaeropteris crinita

Sphaeropteris crinita
In Hakgale Botanical Garden
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Division:	Polypodiophyta
Class:	Polypodiopsida
Order:	Cyatheales
Family:	Cyatheaceae
Genus:	Sphaeropteris
Species:	S. crinita
Binomial name
Sphaeropteris crinita (Hook.) R.M.Tryon (1970) [2]
Synonyms [2]
Cyathea crinita(Hook.) Copel. (1909) Alsophila crinitaHook. (1844)

Sphaeropteris crinita, synonyms Alsophila crinita and Cyathea crinita, is a species of tree fern native to India and Sri Lanka. ^{[3] [4]} It is considered to be endangered.

Distribution and habitat

Sphaeropteris crinita is found between 1,500 and 2,200 m in the Western Ghats of India and in the central wet zone of Sri Lanka, in about 15 locations. Few individual plants are found together, along streams and in marshy areas. ^[5]

Conservation

The species is considered to be endangered; threats include road construction and use of the entire plant for ornamental purposes. ^[5] An in-vitro protocol for propagation has been developed, ^[6] and ex-situ populations established at two locations. ^[5]

References

1. Irudayaraj, V. (2011). "Alsophila crinita". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2011 e.T194149A8883163. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
2. Sphaeropteris crinita (Hook.) R.M.Tryon. Plants of the World Online . Retrieved 28 December 2023.
3. "Alsophila crinita Hook". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
4. Hassler, Michael (2004–2021), "Genus Alsophila R.Br.", World Ferns. Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World. Version 12.3, retrieved 28 July 2021
5. "Cyathea crinita (Hook.) Copel". India Biodiversity Portal. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
6. Sara, S. Catharin & Manickam, V.S. (2005). "In Vitro Propagation of the Critically Endangered Fern Cyathea crinita (Hook.) Copel". Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences. 7 (3): 527–536. Retrieved 28 July 2021.