Cyathea myosuroides (Liebm.) Domin

  • Authority

    Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.

  • Family

    Cyatheaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cyathea myosuroides (Liebm.) Domin

  • Description

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    Species Description - Trunks to 2–5 m tall, ca. 10 cm diam.; stipes dark brown, prickly, but lacking coarse spines, scales conform, castaneous, concolorous, margins with short teeth, hairs of major axes not abundant, mostly adpressed; blades 1.5–4 m long, bipinnatepinnatifid, firm to subcoriaceous; pinnae ca. 1.7 cm wide, stalks 10–14 mm long; pinnules stalked ca. 1–2 mm, lobed ca. halfway to segment midveins; veins 1-forked; costules hairy on both sides, segment hairs sparse adaxially, a few more abaxially, occasional irregularly toothed dark scales on costules abaxially; sori medial at vein forks or more commonly on acroscopic branches, receptacles pilose, indusia absent.

  • Discussion

    Alsophila myosuroides Liebm., Mexic. Bregn. 236 (reprint 84). 1849. Sphaeropteris myosuroides (Liebm.) R. M. Tryon, Contr. Gray Herb. 200: 20. 1970. Type. Mexico. Oaxaca: Chinantla, between Lacoba and Teotalcingo, Liebmann s.n. [Pl. Mex. 2081, Fl. Mex. 514, 902, 905, 906, 907, 908] (C!; isotype US!).

    Cyathea myosuroides is distinguished by the exindusiate sori and by castaneous stipe scales with many fine, concolorous teeth. Abundant epiphyllous lichens (Aulaxina quadrangula (Stirton) R. Sant. and three sterile Asterothyriaceae; Richard Harris, pers. comm.) give a distinct pale gray color to the blades. This species and C. microdonta are the only species of tree ferns in Mexico that occur also in the West Indies.

  • Distribution

    Wet montane forests; 0–1200 m. Mexico; Guat, Bel, Hond, Nic; Cuba.

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