Cyathea balanocarpa
Encyclopedia
Cyathea balanocarpa is a species of tree fern
native to Cuba
, Jamaica
and Hispaniola
. Despite its wide distribution, little is known about this species. It is apparently of hybrid origin.
In southeastern Cuba it hybridises with Cyathea woodwardioides to form the natural hybrid Cyathea × boytelii
.
Cyatheales
The order Cyatheales is a taxonomic division of the fern subclass, Cyatheatae, which includes the tree ferns. No clear morphological features characterize all of the Cyatheales, but DNA sequence data indicates that the order is monophyletic. Some species in the Cyatheales have tree-like growth...
native to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
. Despite its wide distribution, little is known about this species. It is apparently of hybrid origin.
In southeastern Cuba it hybridises with Cyathea woodwardioides to form the natural hybrid Cyathea × boytelii
Cyathea × boytelii
Cyathea × boytelii is a tree fern endemic to the Sierra Maestra range of southeastern Cuba. It is a natural interspecific hybrid between Cyathea balanocarpa and Cyathea woodwardioides. The spores of C. × boytelii are normal in appearance; Caluff and Serrano suggest that it might therefore be fertile...
.