Alsophila

Authority

Mickel, John T. & Smith, Alan R. 2004. The pteridophytes of Mexico. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 88: 1-1054.

Family

Cyatheaceae

Scientific Name

Alsophila

Description

Genus Description - Terrestrial; stems decumbent to erect, to 15 m, with or without spines; fronds to 4.2 m, short-sessile to long-stipitate; stipes brown to black, smooth or spiny; stipe base scales concolorous or bicolorous, marginate, with an apical seta or with apical and lateral setae, also with squamules; blades pinnate-pinnatifid to quadripinnate; rachises with hairs, scales and squamules; veins free, mostly simple; indusia globose (sphaeropteroid) or absent; sporangia 16-spored, 64-spored in A. salvinii; x=69.

Discussion

Type: Alsophila australis R. Br. (additional synonymy in R. Tryon, 1970).

Nephelea R. M. Tryon, Contr. Gray Herb. 200: 37. 1970. Type: Nephelea polystichoides (Christ) R. M. Tryon [-/=Cyathea polystichoides Christ]. Alsophila is a genus of ca. 235 species in the New and Old World tropics, three in Mexico. Recent treatments (e.g., Riba in Davidse et al., 1995) have submerged Nephelea under Alsophila. The genus is distinct from other tree ferns by its frond scales bearing black acicular setae.