Sphaeropteris crinita | |
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In Hakgale Botanical Garden | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Division: | Polypodiophyta |
Class: | Polypodiopsida |
Order: | Cyatheales |
Family: | Cyatheaceae |
Genus: | Sphaeropteris |
Species: | S. crinita
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Binomial name | |
Sphaeropteris crinita | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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Sphaeropteris crinita, synonyms Alsophila crinita and Cyathea crinita, is a species of tree fern native to India and Sri Lanka.[3][4] It is considered to be endangered.
Sphaeropteris crinita is found between 1,500 and 2,200 m in the Western Ghats of India and in the central wet zone of Sri Lanka, in about 15 locations. Few individual plants are found together, along streams and in marshy areas.[5]
The species is considered to be endangered; threats include road construction and use of the entire plant for ornamental purposes.[5] An in-vitro protocol for propagation has been developed,[6] and ex-situ populations established at two locations.[5]