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Useful Tropical Plants

Cyathea arborea

(L.) Sm.

Cyatheaceae

+ Synonyms

Disphenia arborea (L.) C.Presl

Hemitelia arborea (L.) Fée

Polypodium arboreum L.

Common Name:

Cyathea arborea
A clump of plants growing in Guadeloupe
Photograph by: Patrice78500
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Cyathea arborea Cyathea arborea Cyathea arborea

General Information

Cyathea arborea is an evergreen tree fern; it can grow 9 metres or more tall. The unbranched stem id 8 - 12cm in diameter, topped by a crown of long leaves, each up to 3 metres long[
447
Title
Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Publication
 
Author
Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
Publisher
USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
Year
1964
ISBN
 
Description
Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its stem. It is often cultivated as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

S. America - Venezuela; Caribbean - Barbados to Puerto Rico and Jamaica.

Habitat

An understorey tree in forests, more commonly in open situations. It readily invades open areas, often being found growing abundantly along the cut roadside banks of new roads[
447
Title
Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Publication
 
Author
Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
Publisher
USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
Year
1964
ISBN
 
Description
Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].

Properties

Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Fern
Height7.00 m
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details



It is reported that small plants can be. transplanted successfully and garden-grown in moist regions, even at sea level[
447
Title
Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Publication
 
Author
Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
Publisher
USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
Year
1964
ISBN
 
Description
Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The growing plants are used as supports for vanilla plants and other orchids[
447
Title
Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Publication
 
Author
Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
Publisher
USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
Year
1964
ISBN
 
Description
Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].

Other Uses

The stems are used to preserve and carry fire, which can be maintained for hours without smoke or flames[
447
Title
Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Publication
 
Author
Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
Publisher
USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
Year
1964
ISBN
 
Description
Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].

The stem comprises a hard black outer layer 3mm or more in thickness and a central white soft pith containing a ring of brown bundles which serve for conduction and strength. Though not solid wood, the hard trunks are durable and resistant to decay and termites. They can be used as posts, frameworks of houses etc[
447
Title
Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
Publication
 
Author
Little E.L.; Wadsworth F.H.
Publisher
USDA, Forest Service; Washington.
Year
1964
ISBN
 
Description
Contains detailed information, and usually an illustration, on 250 tree species, including both native and exotic species.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-05. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Cyathea+arborea>

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