Scaly Tree Fern

Tree Fern: Cyanthea cooperi

• The most commonly seen tree fern at Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges .

• There are seven species of tree ferns in the Wet Tropics, three of them endemic. 

• Although all seven are found in the uplands, only two, the scaly, or Cooper’s, tree fern (Cyanthea cooperi) and black tree fern (Cyanthea rebeccae) are found in the tropical lowlands. 

• The most common and most widespread, the scaly tree fern, is also the largest, growing to a height of 15m with a 30 cm thick trunk. 

• The trunk is patterned with large oval scars left by fallen fronds. It is hardy and often grown in gardens.

• Unlike conifers and other advanced trees, tree ferns are not capable of producing secondary timber. 

• This means that their trunks cannot become thicker, growth occurring only from the top. 

• The trunk is pithy on the inside but hard on the outside and is often covered with a mass of tough aerial roots.

•  If the tree fern is knocked over these can grow into the ground and develop as normal roots.

Courtesy of: Environmental Protection Agency, Cairns.

Also known as the ‘Scaly tree fern’, it is characterized by the following:

• Trunk up to 15 cm in diameter and to 12 m or more tall, thickened at the base and patterned throughout with large oval, clean-cut scars left by fallen fronds. 

• Stipe bases brown, tuberculate, covered by long, white and short, red-brown scales. 

• Fronds up to 6 m long, green above, paler beneath. 

• Sori orbicular, surrounded by circular indusia, each made up of scales.

• It is a very handsome, fast-growing species, which is extremely popular in cultivation. 

• The apex of the trunk and unfurling crosiers are particularly attractive, covered as they are with conspicuous long, silky, white scales. 

• Specimens from northern Queensland have less persistent scales. 

• Some extremely robust specimens are occasionally encountered in north-eastern Qld. 

• These closely resemble the Norfolk Island C. brownii in all respects.

  Confusing species: 

• None.

  Distinguishing Features: 

• The trunk patterned by fallen stipes.

• The stipe bases bearing two types of scales.

Distribution:

•  Qld (from Cooktown South), NSW (as far South as the Illawarra district). 

• Naturalized in WA (Bedfordale).

Cultivation:

•  Very easily grown and very hardy. 

• Heavy frosts may kill the fronds, put plants recover quickly.

Jones. D.L, Clemesha. S.C., Australian Ferns and Fern Allies, 1980

Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges
Lake Eacham, Atherton Tableland
Tropical North Queensland, Australia.
PH & Fax: 07 4095 3754 International: 61 7 4095 3754

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