Alsophila gigantea

Alsophila gigantea, synonym Cyathea gigantea,[1] is a species of tree fern native to northeastern to southern India, Sri Lanka, Nepal to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, the Malay Peninsula, as well as central Sumatra and western Java. It grows in moist open areas at an altitude of 600–1000 m. The trunk of this species is erect and may be as tall as 5 m or more. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and usually 2–3 m long. The rachis is long, dark to black in colouration and rough in appearance after the fall of scales. These scales are dark brown, glossy and have a narrow paler margin and fragile edges. Sori are round and indusia absent.[2]

Alsophila gigantea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Cyatheales
Family: Cyatheaceae
Genus: Alsophila
Species:
A. gigantea
Binomial name
Alsophila gigantea
Wall. ex Hook.[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Alsophila balakrishnanii (R.D.Dixit & Tripathi) R.D.Dixit
  • Alsophila helferiana C.Presl
  • Alsophila polycampta Kunze
  • Alsophila rheosora Christ
  • Alsophila umbrosa Wall. ex Ridl.
  • Cyathea balakrishnanii R.D.Dixit & A.K.Tripathi
  • Cyathea gigantea (Wall. ex Hook.) Holttum
  • Cyathea pectinata Ching & S.H.Wu
  • Cyathea petiolulata Ching & S.H.Wu
  • Cyathea pseudogigantea Ching & S.H.Wu
  • Cyathea tinganensis Ching & S.H.Wu
  • Dichorexia gigantea (Wall. ex Hook.) C.Presl
  • Gymnosphaera gigantea (Wall. ex Hook.) J.Sm.
  • Gymnosphaera gigantea (Wall. ex Hook.) S.Y.Dong
  • Polypodium giganteum Wall.
  • Polypodium umbrosum Wall.

Large and Braggins (2004) note that A. gigantea is very similar to Alsophila glabra and appears to form part of a complex that also includes Alsophila podophylla and Alsophila subdubia. Further study is needed to determine the nature of the relationship between these taxa.[2]

The specific epithet gigantea refers, at least in part, to the large fronds.[2]

References
  1. Hassler, Michael & Schmitt, Bernd (June 2019). "Alsophila gigantea". Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World (version 8.02). Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  2. Large, Mark F. & Braggins, John E. (2004). Tree Ferns. Timber Press. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-88192-630-9.


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