Tree ferns

Plant Characteristics

Origin:	✈	?

Cultivation

Exposure:	☼	?"?" is not in the list (sun, part-sun, shade, unknown) of allowed values for the "Exposure" property.
Water:	◍	?"?" is not in the list (wet, moist, moderate, dry, less when dormant) of allowed values for the "Water" property.

Scientific Names

Read about Tree ferns in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Tree ferns. The term "tree fern" is applied commonly to ferns of the family Cyatheaceae, to distinguish them from species of other families of ferns which, for the most part, are not at all arborescent. A comparatively small number of Cyatheaceae, it is true, have the trunk short, and oblique or decumbent; but in most species the trunk is erect and greatly elongate (commonly 3 to 40 feet high) and the whole plant so unmistakably tree-like in size and proportion, that the name "tree fern" is a most appropriate one for the family. The leaves are usually large and are borne in a radiating palm-like crown at the apex of the trunk, or caudex, as it is often called. The trunk itself, in the case of an ordinary mature individual, is marked by numerous close-set leaf-scars; these serve to indicate not only the relatively great age of the plant but its slow rate of continuous development, as well. Tree ferns are primarily forest dwellers and occur either as component parts of the dominant forest growth or, more commonly, as a sort of thicket or "under-forest" association in moist partial shade beneath the crowns of the higher forest trees. They are nearly confined to wet tropical mountain slopes which are not subject to drought or pronounced seasonal change; they reach, therefore, their best development, both as to species and number of individuals, upon lofty mountains and upon the seaward side of ranges which are drenched constantly by cool moisture laden winds from the ocean. The successful cultivation of tree ferns under glass is predicated upon these facts, although not all the species here mentioned are horticulturally known in this country. It is found that most species should be grown at a temperature of about 60° F. and in a rather shallow soil; that a continuously wet but well-drained substratum is essential; and that in general a tolerably high atmospheric humidity also is requisite for best growth. Very bright sunlight must be guarded against in all but a few species, among these being the common tropical American Cyathea arborea, which grows naturally in rather open places, and C. furfuracea, a native of Cuba and Jamaica which assumes a not unattractive form in drier open situations. As in other groups of ferns, there are certain species which demand unusual care and minor variations of treatment, such as wrapping the trunk in sphagnum as a safeguard against drying out. These special requirements can be determined only by experience. The Cyatheaceae are divided technically into three tribes: Thyrsopterideae, Dicksonieae, and Cyatheae. The first mentioned consists of a single species, Thyrsoptcris elegans, Kunze, from Juan Fernandez. The two latter tribes may be distinguished as follows: Sori terminal upon the veins, at or near the margin of the segments; indusia at least bilobed, the outer lip formed of the more or less modified lobule of the leaf Dicksonieae. Sori borne upon the back of the veins; indusium (if present) not formed of the leaf-margin in any part.. Cyatheae. The Dicksonieae consist of three genera:Culcita (often known as Balantium), with about six species, all of small stature and nearly devoid of trunk; Dicksonia, with five tropical American species and several hardy Australasian species, the latter not uncommon in cultivation and capable of enduring unusually great extremes of cold; and Cibotium, with four North American species and several which occur in Asia and the islands of the Pacific.(See under Cibotium and Dicksonia.) It is in the Cyatheae, however, that the greatest variety and extremes of leaf form are noted, and consequently the species of this tribe are most highly esteemed in cultivation. They are commonly associated under three genera: Cyathea, Alsophila, and Hemitelia, distinguished mainly by characters of the indusia. One of the most graceful species of all is Cyathea arborea, introduced into England from the West Indies by Admiral Bligh in 1793. There are numerous species almost equally fine, many of which are not in general cultivation. The species with clean trunks, from which the leaves are freely deciduous after maturity, are the most pleasing; and among those which deserve especial notice are the following: Cyathea minor, a very slender Cuban plant with trunk 6 to 12 feet high and 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick, its several slender bipinnate leaves borne in a spreading crown; C. portoricensis, a tall Porto Rican species with large nearly tripinnate leaves, its rachises dark, lustrous, purplish brown; C. elegans, of Jamaica, a close ally of C. arborea, often attaining a wide spread of leaf at an unusually early age; C. Werckleana, C. hemiotis, and C. hastulata, of Costa Rica, a peculiar subgroup characterized by having the leaves fully tripinnate, the ultimate rachises discontinuously alate;C.divergens, extending in one form or another from the Andes to Costa Rica, its huge fronds exceedingly lax and sometimes even in large plants recurved nearly to the ground; C. insignis of the Greater Antilles, in technical characters allied to the well-known C. princeps of Mexico; C. suprastrigosa and C. conspersa. of Costa Rica and Panama, delicate graceful tripinnatifid plants of the high mountains; C. punctifera of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, a plant of lower range, its huge tripinnatifid fronds remarkably beautiful from the strong contrast afforded by the slender rich brown rachises and the unusually vivid green leaf-segments; C. aureonitens of Costa Rica and Panama, a lofty plant with leaf-scars in distant zones, having the unusual habit also of shedding piecemeal all its large tripinnatifid fronds, seasonally. Of Alsophila, the two best-known species in cultivation are doubtless A. australis and A. aspera, the latter a common West Indian plant. A. myosuroides, of Cuba, Mexico, and Central America, has lately been reintroduced to cultivation. It is a remarkably handsome plant, its rather harsh, heavy, gray-green, tripinnatifid leaves borne from a copious mass of slender, glossy brown scales. Another beautiful species, A. Salvinii, from Mexico and Guatemala, has very large tripinnate fronds, with woody castaneous rachises in striking contrast. A favorite species in cultivation also is A. quadripinnata (A. pruinata), native in the West Indies and from Mexico to Chile, its short trunk bearing huge four-pinnate fronds, bluish or silvery white beneath. The genus Hemitelia includes not only plants of the above sort, with tripinnatifid fronds (as, for example, the well-known H. capensis), but also plants of a istinctly different type known as the subgenus Cnemidaria. These are H. horrida, of the West Indies, and numerous related species of the American tropics, many of which have long been cultivated in European conservatories. They are characterized mainly by short trunks and large, leafy, simply pinnate or bipin- natifid fronds, and make a beautiful display in cultivation. Among them may be mentioned H. speciosa, H. bella, H. grandifolia, (H. insignis), H. spectabilis, and H. subincisa. Their characters have recently been discussed at some length. Considering the wealth of material available in the American tropics and the comparative ease with which it may be secured, it is remarkable that so little attention has been given to the introduction of recently described species. The novelty and beauty of many of these render an effort to this end exceedingly desirable and advantageous from a horticultural point of view. Costa Rica in particular has yielded many interesting new species within late years. This region, which has been called the richest in the world, will doubtless be equaled by certain parts of the Andes of South America, when that immense territory shall have been adequately explored. William R. Maxon. Cultivation of tender ferns. To grow commercial varieties of ferns profitably, the first care should be to secure the necessary number of properly built and equipped houses, with a conveniently arranged workshop. The house which gives the most general satisfaction runs north and south, has an even-span roof, and with a fall to roof of 6 inches to the foot. Its benches should be arranged to be about 7 feet wide, with a 24-inch path on either side. In an 18-foot house this will permit of having a 7-foot centertable, two 3 1/2 -foot side benches and two 24-inch paths. Benches should not be more than 3 feet above the walks, as this will bring every part of the bench within easy reach, and will permit of every plant being in constant sight and easily cared for, which fact is essential in the profitable cultivation of trade ferns. The width of house is immaterial, but when houses adjoin, a width of 27 feet has been found to be very satisfactory, as this permits the construction of three 7-foot benches, two 24-inch paths, and two paths 2 1/2 feet wide under each gutter. Thorough provision should be made for ventilation. For a 27-foot house, a continuous row of ventilators of at least 3 feet in width should be provided, with some reliable apparatus for raising same. Heating is the next important consideration. Either steam or hot water will give equally good results if properly installed. The safest way for the average grower is to give the heating contract to some reliable firm. Water-taps should be so arranged that a 25-foot hose attached to same will easily reach any part of the house. A 25 foot hose can easily be carried about without injuring either itself or benches and plants; and iron pipe is of only half the cost of good hose. In most fern-houses drip is a source of great annoyance, and should be prevented by the use of drip-bars, by having a drip- groove plowed into the headers immediately under the ventilating-sash, and also by having a groove in sides of gutter-plates. This very slight additional expense will very soon pay for itself by saving a great number of plants, especially when growing very small ferns in houses, such as have been transplanted from spore pots into boxes. Ventilators should fit into a groove in ridge of house and be hinged to the ridge. When ventilators are so arranged, air, which is very desirable on a good many warm rainy days in the summer, can be given without having plants in the houses suffering from excessive moisture. Burning of the foliage will also be avoided, as the plants will at no time be exposed to the direct rays of the sun. Ventilators hinged on header and opening on ridge will always give trouble. No matter what kind of covering is put over the opening, if it efficiently excludes the burning sun's rays it will also prevent the ingress of air. A propagating-room should be provided; and in the case of general trade ferns raised from spores, it is a very safe rule to calculate on having from 60 to 70 square inches of room in the propagating-frame for every 1,000 plants desired. The propagating-frame should be 3 1/2 feet wide, have sides 9 inches high, and, to insure an even moisture, its bottom should be covered to the thickness of 1 inch with fine cinders "with the fine ashes removed, which make very clean and efficient drainage material. The frame should be covered with light sash constructed with drip-bars, to carry off condensation. Shading of fern-houses should have close attention. It is best effected by the application of a suitable wash to the outside of glass on roof. The following composition for a wash has given excellent results for a number of years: To two gallons of benzene or turpentine add one pint (or more, according to time the shading is desired to remain on houses) of linseed oil, five pounds of pure white lead and enough whitening to make proper thickness (which can very easily be ascertained CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

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