Cyathea fadenii

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iCyathea fadenii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pteridophyta
Order: Cyatheales
Family: Cyatheaceae
Genus: Cyathea
Subgenus: Cyathea
Section: Alsophila
Species: C. fadenii
Binomial name
Cyathea fadenii
Holttum, 1981
Synonyms
  • Alsophila schliebenii Reimers, 1933 (non Cyathea schliebenii Reimers, 1933)

Cyathea exilis is a species of tree fern endemic to the Uluguru Mountains in Tanzania, where it grows on exposed ridges and on the upper edge of montane forest at an altitude of 1700-2100 m. The trunk is erect, up to 4 m tall and 3-5 cm in diameter. Fronds are bipinnate. Characteristically of this species, the most basal pair of pinnae are reduced, often to veins alone.

The specific epithet fadenii commemorates Robert B. Faden, who collected the type material. Large and Braggins (2004) note that Alsophila schliebenii appears to be synonymous with this species.

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