''Alsophila approximata'',

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...

''Cyathea approximata'', is a species of tree fern endemic to Madagascar.

Description

The trunk is erect, spiny and about 2 m tall. Fronds are bipinnate and usually 2 m long. They often form a crown of two whorls of about seven fronds each. Dark brown

scale Scale or scales may refer to: Mathematics * Scale (descriptive set theory), an object defined on a set of points * Scale (ratio), the ratio of a linear dimension of a model to the corresponding dimension of the original * Scale factor, a number ...

s with a paler margin cover the stipe. Sori are round and occur near the fertile pinnule midvein. They are covered by thin, brown indusia, which are cup-like in appearance.

Range and habitat

''Alsophila approximata'' is native to the humid forests of eastern Madagascar. Its range extends from

Montagne d'Ambre Montagne d'Ambre National Park is a national park in the Diana Region of northern Madagascar. The park is known for its endemic flora and fauna, water falls and crater lakes. It is north of the capital, Antananarivo and is one of the most biolog ...

at the north end of the island to the Andringitra Massif in the southeast. It is mostly found in moist montane forests on the windward (eastern) slopes of Madagascar's highlands between 800 and 1400 meters elevation, and occasionally in lowland forests down to 500 meters elevation.Janssen, Thomas & France Rakotondrainibe (2008). "A revision of the indusiate scaly tree ferns (Cyatheaceae, Cyathea subgen. Alsophila sect. Alsophila) in Madagascar, the Comoros and the Seychelles". ''Adansonia'' 30 (2) - pages 221-376.

References

approximata Endemic flora of Madagascar Flora of the Madagascar subhumid forests Flora of the Madagascar lowland forests {{alsophila-plant-stub