Cyathea cooperi 

Phylogeny & links to associated information

Internal links:             Monilophytes > Cyatheales > Cyatheaceae > Cyathea cooperi

External links:     Monilophytes > Cyatheales > Cyatheaceae > Cyathea cooperi

Wikipedia links:        Monilophytes > Cyatheales > Cyatheaceae > Cyathea cooperi

Other links:    

Common name:         Scaly tree fern

• Also, lacy tree fern or Cooper's tree fern

Conservation status: unkown

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Etymology:   

• Derived from the Greek kyatheion, meaning "little cup", and refers to the cup-shaped sori on the underside of the fronds

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Spores:                            

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Leaves:         

• The crown is widely spread and the light green fronds may reach a length of 4–6 metres 

• It can also very rarely be found in the colour of a pale pink with an orange stripe going down the middle; this is extremely rare and can be worth about $2,000 

Stem & branches: 

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

Roots:         

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Habit:        

• It is a medium-to-large fast growing tree fern, to 15 m in height with a 30 cm thick trunk

Habitat:   

• It has naturalised in Western Australia, South Australia, and parts of NSW where it is not native

• It has also naturalized in New Zealand, South Africa, Tanzania, the Mascarene Islands, the Azores, Madeira and Hawaii, where it is classified as an invasive species

Distribution:                  

• Native to Australia, in NSW and Queensland

Additional notes:     

• Sphaeropteris cooperi, synonym Cyathea cooperi

• Cultivation

  • Sphaeropteris 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 does not grow in its optimal form in full sun

  • Under its synonym Cyathea cooperi it has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit

  • It is sometimes mislabeled in the nursery industry as "Cyathea australis" (a synonym of Alsophila australis)