Cyathea manniana (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007)
| Cyathea manniana (Bekele-Tesemma, 2007) |
Cyathea manniana Cyatheaceae Indigenous
Common names
- English: Spiny tree fern
- Kefgna: Sesno
Ecology
Usually found in wet shady forests in the river valleys of Wet Kolla and Weyna Dega agroclimatic zones. Commonly found along the road from Tepi to Mizan in Ilubabor region. It is a lower-storey tree in humid rain forest, often with Podocarpus and Albizia.
Uses
Construction material (woody stems).
Description
This tree fern is usually up to about 6 m but can reach 10 m with a trunk 15 cm in diameter. It tends to lean over. The trunk is covered with brown scales and the spiny bases of old leaves. Mosses and small ferns fill the spaces in between.
- LEAVES: Arching fronds 2–3 m long crowning the stem, leaf blade divided, leaf edges deeply lobed. The lower parts of the leaf stalk, the leaves and stem all have sharp spiny thorns. The fruiting bodies (sori) lie along the veins on the underside of the leaflets.
Propagation
Vegetative propagation from underground stems (rhizomes).
Seed
Propagation is not from seed.
- Treatment: Seed is not used.
- Storage: Not applicable.
Management
Prefers humid and shaded environment. Do not grow it in the open. Pruning the lower branches improves the base quality.
Remarks
Strongly shade demanding. The woody stems are used for house construction as they resist both termites and decay. It is strong wood.
