Cyathea platylepis (Hook.) Domin (1929: 264)

Lehnert, Marcus, 2011, Species of Cyathea in America related to the western Pacific species C. decurrens, Phytotaxa 26, pp. 39-59 : 46

9. Cyathea platylepis (Hook.) Domin (1929: 264) . Hemitelia platylepis Hooker (1861: 100) . Type:— VENEZUELA. Territorio Federal Amazonas: Dept. Río Negro, “Prope San Carlos, ad Rio Negro, Brasilia borealis,” 1853–1854, Spruce 3127 (holotype K, isotypes BM, GOET).

Hemitelia minima Morton (1951: 9) . Type:— VENEZUELA. Bolivar: Ptari-tepui , on "Cave Rock" above

" Cave Camp ", 1810 m, 29 October 1944, Steyermark 59481 (holotype F, isotypes MO, UC) .

Distribution and habitat: — Colombia (250–900 m) and Venezuela (350–2600 m).

Remarks: —Very similar to Cyathea robertsiana from Australia in frond characteristics ( Fig. 3 ), but trunks and petioles have persisting scales.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Frond morphology of the groups of Cyathea platylepis and C. decurrens. A. Cyathea platylepis, fertile pinnule abaxially, from isotype (GOET). B. Cyathea robertsiana, fertile pinnules abaxially, from isotype (B). C. Cyathea croftii, fertile pinnule abaxially, from holotype (K). D. Cyathea cicatricosa, fertile pinnule adaxially, from holotype (K).