Cyathea costaricensis (Mett. ex Kuhn) Domin

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Cyatheaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cyathea costaricensis (Mett. ex Kuhn) Domin

  • Description

    Species Description - Trunks to 8 m tall; fronds ca. 3 m long; stipes stramineous, spines absent, scales pale, often with brown centers, hairs absent; blades bipinnate-pinnatifid, thin-textured, pinnae stalked, pinnules sessile to stalked 1–2 mm; segments dentate to shallowly lobed, slightly falcate, apices acute; rachises and costae glabrous abaxially; adaxial surfaces with costules hairy, also with whitish flat to subbullate scales, segment midveins with 1–3 hairs; sterile laminae glabrous abaxially; sori medial, subtended by 1–3 bullate scales, resembling indusia, and with sparse hairs distally, paraphyses shorter than sporangia.

  • Discussion

    Hemitelia costaricensis Mett. ex Kuhn, Linnaea 36: 159. 1869. Trichipteris costaricensis (Mett. ex Kuhn) Barrington, Rhodora 78: 1. 1976. Lectotype (chosen by Barrington, 1978: 76). “Costa Rica et Veragua.” Warscewicz 36 (B!, frags. NY!, US!).

    Cyathea costaricensis is distinct by the smooth stramineous stipes and sori subtended by 1-3 bullate scales.

  • Distribution

    Moist forests to nearly semiarid, drier areas; 50– 1200 m. Mexico; Guat, Bel, Hond, Salv, Nic, CR, Pan.

    Mexico North America| Panama Central America| Costa Rica South America| Nicaragua Central America| El Salvador Central America| Honduras Central America| Belize Central America| Guatemala Central America|