Cyathea leichhardtiana (F.Muell.) Copel.
Medium tree fern with narrow trunk covered with prickly, persisten stipe bases, and fronds to 3m. To 7m. [FNSW, Beadle].
Horticultural & Botanical History
See History at Camden Park.
History at Camden Park
Plants were collected at Moreton Bay by Ludwig Leichhardt and this could be the fern referred to as Leichhardt no. 14 in a consignment of plants sent to Loddiges’ nursery on 1st February 1849 [MP A2933-1, p.185]. It could also have been sent to James Backhouse on 10th April 1846 [MP A2933-1, p.136], listed simply as ‘Tree ferns from Illawarra’. This consignment is very likely to have included Cyathea leichhhardtiana. Other than Cyathea leichhardtiana, Cyathea australis (R.Br.) Domin and Cyathea cooperi (Hook. ex F.Muell.) Domin, the only other tree fern found in the Illawarra is Dicksonia antartica Labill. See separate entries for these ferns.
This fern was probably also planted in the gardens at Camden Park at this time.
Notes
Published Feb 10, 2009 - 05:24 PM | Last updated Jul 16, 2010 - 05:23 PM
| Family | Cyatheaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | Eastern Australia, including the Illawarra |
| Synonyms |
|
| Common Name | Prickly treefern |
| Name in the Camden Park Record | Fern Leichhardt No.14 |
| Confidence level | medium |