Alsophila solomonensis is a species in the family Cyatheaceae, commonly called tree ferns.
| Alsophila solomonensis | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Division: | Polypodiophyta |
| Class: | Polypodiopsida |
| Order: | Cyatheales |
| Family: | Cyatheaceae |
| Genus: | Alsophila |
| Species: | A. solomonensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Alsophila solomonensis | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description
editIt forms a trunk that may reach as much as 4 meters in height. The leaves are quite large, 2 to 3 meters in length, and may be bipinnate or tripinnate, double or triple divided. The pinnae, the leaflets forming the plant's feather like compound leaves, are either red or reddish in color.[2]
Taxonomy
editAlsophila solomonensis was scietifically described by Richard Eric Holttum in 1964 and named Cyathea solomonensis. In 1970 Rolla M. Tryon Jr. moved it to the genus Alsophila.[3]
Range and habitat
editAlsophila solomonensis grows on the Solomon Islands, including Bougainville, Guadalcanal, Kolombangara, Malaita, and Rendova.[3] There it grows in the rainforests and also on steep cliffs.[2] The elevation range is from 50 meters to 1500 meters.[1]
The IUCN listed it as vulnerable on their Red List in 2019. They evaluated as vulnerable due to having a declining adult population due to ongoing declines in the amount and quality of habitat for the species. The specific threats are mining, quarrying, the extension of crop lands, and timber plantations.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Williams, E. (2019). "Alsophila solomonensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T135463673A135463677. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T135463673A135463677.en. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ a b Large, Mark F.; Braggins, John E. (2004). Tree ferns. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. pp. 260–261. ISBN 978-0-88192-630-9. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ a b Hassler, Michael. "Alsophila solomonensis". World Ferns. Retrieved 2021-01-01.