Cyathea grevilleana

Cyathea grevilleana is a species of tree fern endemic to Jamaica, where it grows in moist gullies and on wooded hills in both calcareous and noncalcareous soils at an altitude of 200–1200 m. The trunk of this plant is erect, about 7 m tall, and 10–15 cm in diameter. It is characteristically clothed in old stipe bases, brown scales and blackish spines. Fronds are tripinnate, dark green in colour, and up to 4 m in length. The last pinnae are sometimes separated, forming a distinctive clump around the trunk apex. The rachis is yellow-brown and almost smooth. This species has a long, dark brown stipe with a few scattered spines. Sori are produced in four to six pairs along the pinnule midvein. They are protected by pale brown indusia that are cup-like in appearance.

C. grevilleana forms part of the complex centered on Cyathea woodwardioides comprising six very similar taxa from the Greater Antilles. The other five species are Cyathea crassa, Cyathea fulgens, Cyathea portoricensis and Cyathea tussacii. Large and Braggins (2004) note that this group is known to cross with members of the Cyathea minor complex.

Cyathea lindsayana was described by William J. Hooker in 1865 based on material that was recorded as having originated from Mount Lindesay in Queensland. Tindale (1956) concluded that this taxon is conspecific with C. grevilleana and thus should be considered a junior synonym. Large and Braggins suggest Hooker's naming of a new species identical to one published previously was likely an error and the result of samples being mixed up.

The specific epithet grevilleana commemorates Robert Kaye Greville (1794-1866), who collected the type specimen in Jamaica in 1832.

References

• Braggins, John E. & Large, Mark F. 2004. Tree Ferns. Timber Press, Inc., p. 138. ISBN 0-88192-630-2
• Tindale, M. D. 1956. The Cyatheaceae of Australia. Contributions from the New South Wales National Herbarium 2: 327-361.
• The International Plant Names Index: Cyathea grevilleana