Alsophila glaucifolia

Alsophila glaucifolia, synonym Cyathea glauca,[1] is a species of tree fern endemic to Réunion. Little is known about this species.

Alsophila glaucifolia
Growing near the village of la Plaine des Palmistes, Réunion
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Cyatheales
Family: Cyatheaceae
Genus: Alsophila
Species:
A. glaucifolia
Binomial name
Alsophila glaucifolia
R.M.Tryon[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Cyathea glauca Bory

A. glaucifolia grows at higher altitudes (1,300–2,000 m (4,300–6,600 ft)), and it is one of three species of tree fern that are indigenous to Réunion island.

  • Alsophila celsa (syn. Cyathea excelsa) which also occurs in Mauritius, grows at slightly lower altitudes (200-1700m). Like A. glaucifolia, its leaves are tripinnate, but the new fronds of A. celsa are scaleless; those of A. glaucifolia have red-brown scales.
  • Alsophila borbonica (syn. Cyathea borbonica) is the only species with bipinnate fronds.[2][3]
  • The fronds are tripinnate (branching to three levels).
    The fronds are tripinnate (branching to three levels).
  • Growing under Acacia heterophylla in the forest of Bélouve, Réunion
    Growing under Acacia heterophylla in the forest of Bélouve, Réunion
  • Detail of trunk and insertion of fronds. New growth is covered in red-brown scales. This serves to distinguish the species from the alien, non-indigenous Sphaeropteris cooperi (syn. Cyathea cooperi), which has red and white scales on its new growth.
    Detail of trunk and insertion of fronds. New growth is covered in red-brown scales. This serves to distinguish the species from the alien, non-indigenous Sphaeropteris cooperi (syn. Cyathea cooperi), which has red and white scales on its new growth.
  • The alien Sphaeropteris cooperi can be distinguished from A. glaucifolia by the red and white scales on its new fronds.
    The alien Sphaeropteris cooperi can be distinguished from A. glaucifolia by the red and white scales on its new fronds.

References
  1. "Alsophila glaucifolia R.M.Tryon". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
  2. M. Glaubrecht (2010): Evolution in Action: Case studies in Adaptive Radiation, Speciation and the Origin of Biodiversity. Springer Science & Business Media. Science. p.13.
  3. A revision of the fern family Cyatheaceae in the Mascarene Islands (2006)

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