Alsophila

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

Alsophila >

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Read about Alsophila in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Alsophila (Greek, grove-loving). Cyatheàceae. Tree ferns, grown in choice large conservatories, and in the open in warm countries. Alsophilas have simple or forked free veins, round sori, and no indusia. Numerous species are found in the tropical regions of both hemispheres. The species of Alsophila are very similar in appearance to the tree ferns placed in the genus Cyathea and are probably not generically distinct. Of the different species of alsophila, only one is in general commercial use. A. australis is a very graceful and rapidly growing tree fern, with finely divided fronds of a pleasing shade of light green, with the stipes thickly covered with light brown, hairy scales. It is grown from spores, which can be obtained only from old and large specimens, and which, like the spores of most commercial ferns, will germinate very freely if sown on a compost consisting of finely screened soil, leaf-mold and sand in equal parts. To develop a good crown of fronds in old specimen plants which may look starved, the stem may be covered to any thickness consistent with good appearance with green moss, which may be attached with thin copper wire, and which, if kept continually moist, will soon be thickly covered with fine roots. Alsophilas should be grown in a temperature of 60° F., and the soil should never be allowed to become very dry. A . Baroumba, Hort. Recently intro. Not so elegant as A. Loubetiana, but of interest for its majestic dimensions. Congo Free State. — A. congoensis, Hort. Large, handsome fronds, with prominent yellow midrib: pinnae deeply and regularly cut. — A. incána, Hort. A magnificent tree fern with black spiny petioles. Congo. R.B. 34:172, — A. Loubetiana, Hort. A decorative tree fern with broad Lvs.: rachis hairy brown. S.H. 4:453. 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 It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article.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.

Cultivation

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References

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

External links

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