Cyathea Sm.

Tree Fern Sago Fern

Etymology: Greek kyatheion - little cup, in reference to the cup-like indusium found in some species. The Greek is latinised in compound words to Cyath-.

Characters as for family description.

Tree Fern Sago Fern.

c. 800 species mostly from the tropics and subtropics but a few extending southward into temperate and cool-temperate areas (11 species endemic to Australia).

Spores (sometimes difficult) or offsets.

Base of fronds with pale to dark scales, in contrast to the ginger hairs of Dicksonia.

Tindale (1956), Holttum (1963, 1964, 1965), Tryon (1976), Windisch (1977).

Source: Spencer, R. (1995). Cyatheaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 1, Ferns, conifers & their allies. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Polypodiopsida
order     Cyatheales
family      Cyatheaceae
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
species        Cyathea australis (R.Br.) Domin
species        Cyathea baileyana (Domin) Domin
species        Cyathea cooperi (F.Muell.) Domin
species        Cyathea cunninghamii Hook.f.
species        Cyathea dealbata (G.Forst.) Sw.
species        Cyathea kermadecensis W.R.B.Oliv.
species        Cyathea medullaris (G.Forst.) Sw.
species        Cyathea rebeccae (F.Muell.) Domin
species        Cyathea robusta (C.Moore) Holttum
species        Cyathea smithii Hook.f.
species        Cyathea tomentosissima Copel.