Kingdom Plantae Order Cyatheales Genus Cyathea Higher classification Cyathea | Division Pteridophyta Family Cyatheaceae Scientific name Cyathea esmeraldensis Rank Species | |
People also search for Cyathea catillifera, Cyathea costalisora | ||
Cyathea esmeraldensis (syn. Cyathea esmeraldensis) is a species of tree fern which is endemic to Ecuador. It grows in coastal forest and forested slopes of the Andes.
Description
The erect, slender trunk is about 80 cm tall and approximately 3 cm in diameter. Fronds may be either simply pinnate or bipinnate basally. They are erect or spreading and up to 2.5 m long. The rachis ranges in colour from dark brown to blackish and bears a few scales. The scales are linear, bicoloured (whitish with a central brown region) and with edges and apexes with dark setae. Sori are covered by cup-like indusia. Cyathea esmeraldensis forms part of the group centered on Cyathea minor. Its closest relative appears to be Cyathea stuebelii from the eastern Andes. It differs from that species in its more erect fronds. The two may represent sister species.