Alsophila solomonensis

Alsophila solomonensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Cyatheales
Family: Cyatheaceae
Genus: Alsophila
Species:
A. solomonensis
Binomial name
Alsophila solomonensis
Synonyms
  • Cyathea solomonensis Holttum (1964)

Alsophila solomonensis is a species in the family Cyatheaceae, commonly called tree ferns.

Description

It forms a trunk that may reach as much as 4 m in height. The leaves are large, 2 to 3 m long, and may be bipinnate or tripinnate, double or triple divided. The pinnae, the leaflets forming the plant's feather like compound leaves, are up to 55 cm long, their stems smooth, glabrous, and suffused with a reddish tone below.[2][3]

Taxonomy

Alsophila solomonensis was first described scientifically by Richard Eric Holttum in 1964, and named Cyathea solomonensis.[2] In 1970 Rolla M. Tryon Jr. moved it to the genus Alsophila.[4][5]

Range and habitat

Alsophila solomonensis grows on the Solomon Islands, including Bougainville, Guadalcanal, Kolombangara, Malaita, and Rendova.[5] There it grows in rainforests and also on steep cliffs.[3] Its altitudinal range is from 50–1500 m.[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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b "The tree ferns of the genus Cyathea in Australasia and the Pacific" (PDF). Blumea. 12 (2): 252. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Tryon, Rolla (1970). "The classification of the Cyatheaceae". Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University. Harvard University. ISSN 0195-6094. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
  5. ^ a b Hassler, Michael. "Alsophila solomonensis". World Ferns. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
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