Cyathea

Cyathea
Cyathea medullaris growing in New Zealand
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pteridophyta
Class:	Pteridopsida
Order:	Cyatheales
Family:	Cyatheaceae
Genus:	Cyathea J. E. Smith, 1793
Subgenera and sections
Subgenus Cyathea Alsophila Cyathea Subgenus Sphaeropteris Sphaeropteris Subgenus Hymenophyllopsis
Synonyms
Acanthea Lindig, 1861 Alsophila R. Brown, 1810 Amphicosmia Gardner, 1842 Chlamydia Moore, 1857 Chnoophora Kaulfuss, 1824 Cormiophyllum Newman, 1856 Cyatheopsis Karsten, 1858 Dichorexia Presl, 1847 Dicranophlebia Martius, 1834 Disphenia Presl, 1836 Eatoniopteris Bommer, 1873 Eleutheria Kunze, 1844 Fourniera Bommer, 1873 Gymnopremnon Lindig, 1861 Gymnosphaera Blume, 1828 Halophlebia Martius, 1834 Hymenophyllopsis Goebel, 1929 Nephelea Tryon, 1970 Notocarpia Presl, 1836 Notophoria Presl, 1848 Sarcopholis Schizocaena W. J. Hooker, 1838 Schizocaena J. E. Smith, 1838 Sclephropteris P. G. Windisch Sphaeropteris Bernhardi, 1801 Thysanobotrya Alderwerelt, 1918 Trachypremnon Lindig, 1861 Trichipteris Presl, 1822 Trichopteris Spreng., orth. var.

Cyathea is a genus of tree ferns, the type genus of the fern order Cyatheales.

The genus name Cyathea is derived from the Greek kyatheion, meaning "little cup", and refers to the cup-shaped sori on the underside of the fronds.

The species of Cyathea are mostly terrestrial ferns, usually with a single tall stem. Rarely, the trunk may be branched or creeping. Many species also develop a fibrous mass of roots at the base of the trunk.

The genus has a pantropical distribution, with over 470 species. They grow in habitats ranging from tropical rain forests to temperate woodlands.

The classification below follows the findings of Conant et al. in 1996. Conant concluded, based on molecular cpDNA and morphological evidence, that a system of three clades – Alsophila, Cyathea and Sphaeropteris, whereby Alsophila is most basal and Cyathea and Sphaeropteris are derived sister groups – is the most accurate reflection of evolutionary lineages within the Cyatheaceae.

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