Tree fern that dates back to Gondwana – indiantreepix | Google Groups: 1 image.
I would like to know the species name of this giant tree fern which is quite common in the steep hillside forests of Arunachal Pradesh?
These giant tree ferns are relics from Gondwana, the super land mass consisting of South America, Africa, Antarctica, India & Australia. When Gondwana broke up and separated into smaller land masses, or continents as we know them now, one of the plants that linked them all was the giant tree ferns.
Seeing them for the first time I can only describe it as ‘awesome!
There are 11 species of tree fern Genus Cyathea in India distributed mostly in northeast and south India. I do not know much about Pteridophyte taxonomy but sure it is based on the scales and spore holding bodies. Too minute ditails for this.
Cyathea is a genus of tree ferns, the type genus of the fern order Cyatheales. They are mostly terrestrial ferns, usually with a single tall stem. Rarely, the trunk may be branched or creeping. Many species also develop a fibrous mass of roots at the base of the trunk. The genus has a pantropical distribution, with over 470 species. They grow in habitats ranging from tropical rain forests to temperate woodlands.
The genus name Cyathea is derived from the Greek kyatheion, meaning “little cup”, and refers to the cup-shaped sori on the underside of the fronds.
One of the tree ferns(Cyathia?). I hav seen such giant tree ferns in San Francisco Botanical Gardens (USA).
Thank you! Tree ferns are also found in Nicobar and Andaman islands.
