Cyathea fadenii

Cyathea fadenii 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.

References

• Braggins, John E. & Large, Mark F. 2004. Tree Ferns. Timber Press, Inc., pp. 130–131. ISBN 0-88192-630-2
• The International Plant Names Index: Cyathea fadenii