Family

Cyatheaceae

Nomenclature

Cyathea spinulosa Wall. ex Hook., Sp. Fil. 1: 25, t. 12C. 1844; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India.: 6, f. 3. 1883; Bedd., Suppl. Ferns Brit. Ind.: 2. 1892; Holttum, Kew Bull. 19: 471. 1965; Tagawa & K.Iwats., Fl. Thailand 3: 102. 1979; Boonkerd & Pollawatn, Pterid. Thailand: 114. 2000; Newman et al., Checkl. Vasc. Pl. Lao PDR: 26. 2007.

Alsophila decipiens Scott. in Bedd., Ferns Brit. India: t. 311. 1869. – Amphicosmia decipiens (Scott.) Bedd., Suppl. Ferns Brit. Ind.: 1. 1876; Bedd., Handb. Ferns Brit. India: 10. 1883; Bedd., Suppl. Ferns Brit. Ind.: 2. 1892. – Cyathea decipiens (Scott) C.B.Clarke & Baker, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 24. 409. 1888.

Description

Trunks to 4.5 m tall. Stipes dark purplish, distinctly spiny near base; scales shining dark brown, stiff, their bases later develop into spines. Laminae about 3 m long, 1.5 m wide; c.23 pairs of pinnae, a few basal pinnae reduced; pinna-rachis bearing scales; pinnules broadly cuneate at subsessile base, acuminate at apex, about 8 cm long, 1.8 cm wide; ultimate segments toothed distally; costae underneath scaly but not hairy, scales pale brown; costules and lower surface of lamina minutely pubescent. Sori near costules, indusia hemitelioid, i.e. cup-shaped with apical portion of sori naked.

Distribution in Thailand

NORTHERN: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai.

Distribution in Laos

Unspecified.

Wider Distribution

E Himalaya, S India, Burma, SW China, Taiwan, and S Japan.

Ecology

In deep shade usually in moist places in the lower montane forest at about 700 m alt. When thea forests are cut down, this species cannot survive the resulting dry conditions.

Proposed IUCN Conservation Assessment

Least Concern (LC). Although Cyathea species are often exploited for the horticultural industry (mainly for their trunks as a base for epiphytic orchids) this species is widespread and not noticeably being adversely impacted.  Monitoring is necessary.

Notes

Fibrous trunk used for orchid media.

Voucher specimens - Thailand