Trunk tending to taper upwards, obtaining heights of up to 15 m or so in the wild, covered with persistent rough frond bases having adventitious roots at the base. Fronds to 4-5 m long, divided 3 times. Stalks covered with rounded warts, scales dark glossy brown. Sori without indusia.

Will tolerate cool conditions.

E Australia.

Thick trunk mostly more than 15 cm wide with frond bases persistent, brown and extremely rough; scales dark glossy brown; indusium of fringed scales; bladder-like scales on side branch stems.

Cyathea colensoi (Hook. f.) Domin (Alsophila colensoi Hook. f.) from New Zealand differs in having much smaller membranous fronds with reddish scales on the axes and ribs.

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.