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Cyathea cooperi

Tree fern reaching 12 m in height and 30 cm in stem diameter, with large “leaves” (each can reach 5 m) cut 2-3 times. Spherical marginal sori, without indusium.

Scientific name: Cyathea cooperi (Hook. Ex F. Muell) Domin

Common name: australian tree fern, lacy tree fern, highland lace, scaly tree fern, straw tree fern

Family: Cyatheaceae

Status in Portugal: Invasive species in the Azores, naturalized on Madeira and no records outside cultivation in mainland Portugal.

Risk Assessment Score: [In development].

Synonymy: Alsophila cooperi Hook. ex F. Muell., Alsophila excelsa var. cooperi (Hook. ex F. Muell) Domin, Sphaeropteris cooperi (Hook. ex F. Muell.) R. M. Tryon.

Last update: 28/11/2016 | Profile prepared by the LIFE+ Terras do Priolo project team.

Help us map this species on our citizen-science platform

Avistamentos actuais da espécie: 
Family: 
Cyatheaceae
Appearence: 
Fern

How to recognise it

Tree fern up to 12 m tall. In older specimens, a tight rosette forms at the top of the stem.

“Leaves”: stem base with two types of scales: one dark and small, and the other large, pale and scaly; fronds up to 5 m long with a 2 to 3-penatisect blade at the base, green or light green above, pale below; rachis with dark brown obtuse tubercles; 1st order segments measuring 65 x 26 cm; 2nd order segments with acuminate apices. The fall of the stipes causes oval scars on the stem.

“Flowers”: sori have no indusium, but have a ring of small scales around the sporangia.

“Fruits”: spores are tetrahedral.

Similar species

It is similar to the Tasmanian tree fern (Dicksonia antarctica Labill.), but it is distinguished by the fact that the fronds of Cyathea cooperi have a more pendulous growth and because the fall of the stipes causes oval scars on the stem.

Characteristics that aid invasion

The plant reaches sexual maturity in 2 to 3 years and reproduces by producing hundreds to thousands of spores/plant/year. Dispersal is by anemochory and hydrochory.

 

Native distribution area

Northwestern Australia.

Distribution in Portugal

It occurs in the Azores (Flores, Graciosa, Terceira, Faial, Pico, São Jorge, São Miguel and Santa Maria islands) and on Madeira (Madeira island). It is considered Invasive in the Azores.

For more detailed locations of this species, check the online interactive map. This map is still incomplete – we need your help! Contribute by submitting records of the location of the species where you can find it.

 

Other places where the species is invasive

Mauritius Islands, Reunion, some Hawaiian Islands, Southeast Australia and Western Australia.

Introduction reasons

The introduction was intentional for ornamental purposes in gardens and parks.

Preferential invasion environments

Laurisilva forest, stream banks, ravines, clearings, and incense woods and cryptomeria forests.

Although legally not considered invasive in Portugal, it shows invasive behaviour in some locations in the Azores.

Impacts on ecosystems

The species forms dense patches that disrupt the structure, abundance and succession of the ecosystems it invades. It prevents the development of native vegetation and reduces species diversity through competition and recruitment.

Economic impacts

Potentially high costs in applying control measures.

Natura 2000 Network habitats more prone to impacts

– Mediterranean Sclerophyllous Forests (Macaronesian laurel forests) (9360);

– Endemic Forests with Juniperus spp. (9560).

 

Controlling an invasive species demands a well-planned management, which includes the determination of the invaded area, identifying the causes of invasion, assessing the impacts, defining the intervention priorities, selecting the adequate control methodologies and their application. Afterwards it is fundamental to monitor the efficiency of the methodologies and recuperation of the intervened area as to perform, whenever necessary, the follow-up control.

The control methodologies used for Cyathea cooperi include:

Physical control

Hand pulling: the manual method is the most effective form of control for small plants. The total extraction of the root and the plant requires labor and work time, however, it is feasible and advisable in places of easy access, with low erosion risk or in small patches close to populations of rare and endangered species. Plant residues and plant fragments must be transported to landfill to prevent their regeneration.

Cutting: most recommended method, with the use of backhoe loaders, for large plants in easy-access places. The plant must be cut or pulled out with the root complete and intact, but special care must be taken not to damage the frond, which could burst again. Plant residues/fragments must be transported to landfill to prevent their regeneration.

Visit the webpage How to Control for additional and more detailed information about the correct application of these methodologies.

Global Invasive Species Database (2007) Cyathea cooperi. Disponível: http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=1183&fr=1&sts=&lang=EN [Retrieved 22/12/2015].

Jeménez S, Coelho R, López Y, Silva C (2013) Guia de Controlo de Espécies Exóticas invasoras">Invasoras. Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves, Lisboa.

Schäfer H (2005) Flora of the Azores. A Field Guide. Second Enlarged edition. Margraf Publishers, Weikersheim.

Silva L, Corvelo R, Moura M, Ojeda Land L, Jardim R (2008) Cyathea cooperi (Hook. Ex f. Muell.) Domin. In: Silva L, E Ojeda Land & JL Rodríguez Luengo (eds.) Flora e Fauna Invasora da Macaronésia. TOP 100 nos Açores, Madeira e Canárias, pp. 233-235. ARENA, Ponta Delgada.