Alsophila scandens is a climbing epiphytic tree fern! Plants begin as free-standing, but then later adhere to nearby trees by their root mantle. In the Sibium mountains of Papua New Guinea where this individual was collected, I saw plants climbing up to 6m into the canopy.
Collection Data (S. A. James & M. Sundue 1612)
Classification & Common Names
- Class: Polypodiopsida
- Family: Cyatheaceae
- Genus: Alsophila R. Br.
- Species: Alsophila scandens Brause
- Var./Subsp.:
- Common name(s):
General Collection Data
- Date: 7-II-2013
- Primary Collector & #: S. A. James & M. Sundue 1612
- Collection Party: Shelley James, Michael Sundue, Allen Allison, Si He, Dubi Damas, Bulisa Iova, Oliver Tallowin
- Det. History: M. Lehnert 2014 (BONN)
- Habitat: Primary Forest
- Habit: Climber, Terrestrial, Tree fern
- Specimen Locations: BISH, BONN, LAE, VT
Additional Comments
Small tree fern, trunk 2 cm diam. Plants begin growth free-standing, but then later adhere to nearby trees, climbing them attached by a root mantle. Plants seen climbing to 6m. Leaves 2-pinnate, rachis blackish, usually with 5 pinnae and a terminal confrom pinna, pinnae with 6-10 pinnules.
Collection Location
- Location: Sibium Mtns. – – – Northern Province – Papua New Guinea.
- Coordinates: 9.309811°S, 148.298307°E
- Elevation: 1390 m
A climbing-epiphytic-tree fern!? How cool is that!?!?!