Plant · GBIF taxon 2650280
Hispaniolan Tree Fern
Cyathea arboreaAlso known as West Indian Tree Fern, Slender Tree Fern, Helecho Arborescente
Hispaniolan tree ferns form lush, single-trunked canopies in damp tropical forests throughout the Caribbean islands. Their elegant, pale green fronds spread outward like massive feathery umbrellas to capture diffused light beneath the canopy. As pioneer plants, they quickly colonize sunlit clearings and steep mountain roadcuts where soil has been recently disturbed.
Tree FernTropicalPioneer Species
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Herbivorous insects
- Snails
- Caterpillars
ThreatsDeforestation, severe hurricane damage
HabitatsWet montane forests, rainforest edges, stream banks, roadside slopes
Life span30–80 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCyatheaceae
- SpeciesCyathea arborea
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observing Fronds: Look at the undersides of mature leaves for golden-brown spore clusters called sori.
- Habitat Search: Seek them along humid mountain ridges, stream valleys, and shaded roadside clearings.
Pioneer Competitor (c) Fabrício Mil Homens Riella, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Fabrício Mil Homens Riella · cc-by
Related Family Member JJ Harrison / CC BY-SA 3.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0
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