Tree-Ferns of the Genus Cyathea Sm. in Asia (Excluding Malaysia)

Abstract

The species of Cyathea Sm. in Malaysia are described in 'Flora Malesiana', Ser. II, I, pt. 2 (1963). While preparing that work I examined all species from the mainland of Asia and adjacent islands outside of Malaysia. The result of this study is here presented. In Malaysia I have recognized I91 species, but in the rest of Asia only 25; a few species occur in both areas. It is probable that further species remain to be recognized in China. The genus Cyathea is here construed in a very broad sense, to include Alsophila R. Br., Hemitelia R. Br., Gymnosphaera Bl. and Schizocaena J. Sm. This comprehensive genus is subdivided (as regards the Old World) into subgenera Cyathea and Sphaeropteris (Bernh.) Holttum on characters of stipe-scales, and these subgenera are again divided, as explained in 'Flora Malesiana'; some of the subdivisions do not occur in mainland Asia. Schizocaena J. Sm., typified by S. brunonis J. Sm. ex Hook., is treated in 'Flora Malesiana' as a section of subgen. Sphaeropteris; it is exclusively found in Malaysia and the Pacific region. The Ceylon species Cyathea sinuata Hook. & Grev., and C. hookeri Thw. (both placed in Schizocaena by Copeland, Gen. Fil.: 99 (i947) ) have stipe-scales like subgen. Cyathea, quite unlike the scales of the type species of Schizocaena (see Holttum in Kew Bull. 12: 42 (1957) ). The following key gives the main characters of the divisions of the genus in mainland Asia; comments on each subdivision are made later, under the subgeneric and sectional headings.