Cyathea cooperi

Cyathea cooperi
C. cooperi in Blandys Garden, Madeira
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pteridophyta
Class:	Polypodiopsida /  Pteridopsida (disputed)
Order:	Cyatheales
Family:	Cyatheaceae
Genus:	Cyathea
Subgenus:	Sphaeropteris
Section:	Sphaeropteris
Species:	C. cooperi
Binomial name
Cyathea cooperi (W. J. Hooker ex F. von Mueller) Domin, 1929
Synonyms
Alsophila cooperi W. J. Hooker ex F. von Mueller, 1866 Sphaeropteris cooperi (W. J. Hooker ex F. von Mueller) Tryon, 1970

Cyathea cooperi, also known as the Australian tree fern, lacy tree fern, scaly tree fern, or Cooper’s tree fern, is a tree fern native to Australia, in New South Wales and Queensland.

Description

Cyathea cooperi is a medium-to-large fast growing tree fern, to 15 metres (49 ft) in height with a 12-inch (30 cm) thick trunk. The apex of the trunk and unfurling crosiers are particularly attractive, covered as they are with conspicuous long, silky, straw colored scales. The crown is widely spread and the light green fronds may reach a length of 4–6 metres (13–20 ft).

Cultivation

Cyathea cooperi is one of the most commonly cultivated tree ferns as an ornamental plant. It is used in gardens and public landscaping. It is hardy and easy to grow. Heavy frosts may kill the fronds, but plants recover quickly. The plant prefers protected, shady moist conditions but can be grown in sunny areas. It does not do well in full sun and must be well watered.

It is sometimes mislabeled in the nursery industry as Cyathea australis.

Invasive species

It has naturalised in Western Australia, South Australia, and parts of New South Wales where it is not native. It has also naturalized in Hawaii and has become a problem there as an aggressive invasive species.

Gallery

• 
  Cyathea cooperi growing in Makawao, Maui, Hawaiʻi.
• 
  Detail of trunk and insertion of fronds.
• 
  Detail of trunk
• 
  Unfurling crosiers
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  Unfurling crosiers
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  Crown
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  In The Madeira botanical garden

References

• Braggins, John E. & Large, Mark F. 2004. Tree Ferns. Timber Press, Inc., p. 115. ISBN 0-88192-630-2
• The International Plant Names Index: Cyathea cooperi

Further reading

• Notes on the Status of an Invasive Australian Tree Fern (Cyathea cooperi) in Hawaiian Rain Forests. A. C. Medeiros, L. L. Loope, T. Flynn, S. J. Anderson, L. W. Cuddihy, K. A. Wilson. American Fern Journal, Vol. 82, No. 1 (Jan. - Mar., 1992), pp. 27–33. doi:10.2307/1547758