Plant
Tree Fern
Cyathea caracasanaAlso known as Caracas Tree Fern, Giant Neotropical Tree Fern
These elegant tree ferns dominate sunny gaps in Neotropical cloud forests, hoisting massive crowns of lacy fronds atop slender, fibrous trunks. Their exceptionally long fronds feature prickly stalks that deter climbing herbivores, while their crowns provide vital nesting structure for high-altitude birds. As pioneer plants, they quickly colonize disturbed hillsides and forest edges where sunlight penetrates the persistent mountain mist.
Cloud ForestPrehistoricGiant Fronds
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil Nutrients
Predators
- Herbivorous Insects
- Snails and Slugs
ThreatsHabitat Loss, Deforestation, Climate Change
HabitatsMontane Cloud Forests, Forest Edges, Disturbed Slopes
Life span50 to 100 years
Classification
- FamilyCyatheaceae
- SpeciesCyathea caracasana
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- The leaf stalks are covered in sharp prickles and irritating scales; handle fronds with care.
Responsible observation
- Look Up: Peer into the canopy in sunny forest gaps to spot their massive, starburst-like crowns.
- Avoid the Stems: Do not slide your hands down the leaf stalks, as they are armed with sharp prickles.
- Observe the Trunk: Examine the fibrous trunk to see the beautiful, geometric scars left by fallen fronds.
Co-occurring Fern (c) Andrés Ramírez-Barrera, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrés Ramírez-Barrera · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
Cultivated Relative Amanda Grobe / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
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