Gymnosphaera henryi, synonyms Alsophila henryi and Cyathea henryi,[2] is a species of tree fern native to eastern India and the Himalayas, Indochina, and southern China,[1] where it grows submontane and montane forest at an elevation of 600–1200 m. The trunk of this plant is erect and may be 5–7 m tall or more. Fronds are bi- or tripinnate and usually 2–3 m in length. The rachis is smooth and dark, but occasionally has a few scattered scales. The stipe also has these scales. The scales are either small and pale with irregular fringed edges, or large and dark with a paler margin. Sori are borne on minor veins and lack indusia.[3]

Gymnosphaera henryi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Cyatheales
Family: Cyatheaceae
Genus: Gymnosphaera
Species:
G. henryi
Binomial name
Gymnosphaera henryi
(Baker) S.R.Ghosh (2004)
Synonyms[1]
  • Alsophila gammiei R.D.Dixit (1997)
  • Alsophila gigantea var. polynervata (R.H.Miao) Q.Xia (1989)
  • Alsophila henryi Baker (1898)
  • Cyathea gigantea var. polynervata R.H.Miao (1980)
  • Cyathea henryi (Baker) Copel. (1909)
  • Cyathea pectinata Ching & S.H.Wu (1964)
  • Cyathea petiolulata Ching & S.H.Wu (1964)
  • Cyathea pseudogigantea Ching & S.H.Wu (1964)
  • Cyathea sharmae T.Bandyop., T.Sen & U.Sen (2003)
  • Cyathea tinganensis Ching & S.H.Wu (1964)
  • Gymnosphaera gigantea var. polynervata (R.H.Miao) Y.K.Yang & J.K.Wu (2002)

The specific epithet henryi commemorates Irish botanist Augustine Henry (1857-1930), who collected numerous plants in China.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Gymnosphaera henryi (Baker) S.R.Ghosh. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  2. ^ Hassler, Michael & Schmitt, Bernd (June 2019). "Alsophila henryi". Checklist of Ferns and Lycophytes of the World. Vol. 8. Archived from the original on 2017-09-02. Retrieved 2019-09-14.
  3. ^ a b Large, Mark F. & Braggins, John E. (2004). Tree Ferns. Timber Press. pp. 140–141. ISBN 978-0-88192-630-9.