Alsophila insulana, synonym Cyathea insulana,[1] is a species of tree fern native to New Guinea, where it grows in mossy forest and ravines at an altitude of 750–1600 m. The trunk of this species is erect, 8–10 m tall, and 14 cm in diameter. Fronds may be bi- or tripinnate and approximately 3 m in length. They form a spreading crown. The stipe bears thick spines as well as scales. These scales are either small, pale brown, with a short fringe, or large and glossy brown, with fragile edges. Sori are borne near the fertile pinnule midvein. They are protected by thin, pale indusia.[2]
| Alsophila insulana | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Division: | Polypodiophyta |
| Class: | Polypodiopsida |
| Order: | Cyatheales |
| Family: | Cyatheaceae |
| Genus: | Alsophila |
| Species: | A. insulana
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| Binomial name | |
| Alsophila insulana (Holttum) R.M.Tryon[1]
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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The specific epithet insulana, from Latin insula meaning "island", refers to New Guinea.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c Hassler, Michael & Schmitt, Bernd (June 2019). "Alsophila insulana". Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World. Vol. 8. Archived from the original on 2017-09-02. Retrieved 2019-08-26.
- ^ a b Large, Mark F. & Braggins, John E. (2004). Tree Ferns. Timber Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-88192-630-9.
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