Sphaeropteris cooperi
{{Short description|Species of fern}}
{{Use dmy dates|cs1-dates=ly|date=February 2021}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Blendys garden inferno ag.jpg
| image_caption = In Blandys Garden, Madeira
| taxon = Sphaeropteris cooperi
| authority = (Hook. ex F.Muell.) R.M.Tryon
| synonyms =
{{Species list
|Alsophila australis var. cervicalis|F.M.Bailey
|Alsophila australis var. excelsa|(Endl.) F.M.Bailey
|Alsophila australis var. pallida|Bailey
|Cyathea cooperi|(F.Muell.) Domin
|Alsophila excelsa var. cooperi|(Hook. ex F.Muell.) Domin
|Alsophila hilliana|F.Muell.
|Cyathea australis var. cervicalis|(F.M.Bailey) Domin
|Cyathea australis var. pallida|(Bailey) Domin
|Cyathea brownii var. cooperi|(Hook. ex F.Muell.) Domin
|Alsophila cooperi|F.Muell.
}}
}}
Sphaeropteris cooperi, synonym Cyathea cooperi, also known as lacy tree fern, scaly tree fern, or Cooper's tree fern, is a tree fern native to Australia, in New South Wales and Queensland.
Description
Sphaeropteris cooperi is a medium-to-large fast growing tree fern, to {{convert|15|m|ft}} in height with a {{convert|12|in|cm|adj=on}} thick trunk. The apex of the trunk and unfurling crosiers are particularly attractive, covered as they are with conspicuous long, silky, straw colored scales. The crown is widely spread and the light green fronds may reach a length of {{convert|4|-|6|m|ft}}. It can also very rarely be found in the colour of a pale pink with an orange stripe going down the middle. This is extremely rare and can be worth about 2,000 dollars.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}
Cultivation
Sphaeropteris cooperi is one of the most commonly cultivated tree ferns as an ornamental plant. It is used in gardens and public landscaping. It is hardy and easy to grow. Heavy frosts may kill the fronds, but plants recover quickly. The plant prefers protected, shady moist conditions but can be grown in sunny areas. It does not do well in full sun and must be well watered. It does not grow in its optimal form in full sun.
Under its synonym Cyathea cooperi it has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/5116/Cyathea-cooperi/Details | title = Cyathea cooperi
| website = www.rhs.org | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 2020-05-05}}
It is sometimes mislabeled in the nursery industry as "Cyathea australis" (a synonym of Alsophila australis).
Habitat
It has naturalised in Western Australia, South Australia, and parts of New South Wales where it is not native. It has also naturalized in New Zealand, South Africa, Tanzania, the Mascarene Islands, the Azores, Madeira and Hawaii, where it is classified as an invasive species.{{cite web |title=Sphaeropteris cooperi (F.Muell.) R.M.Tryon; Contr. Gray Herb. 200: 24 (1970) |url=https://www.worldplants.de/world-plants-complete-list/complete-plant-list/?name=Sphaeropteris-cooperi#g- |website=www.worldplants.de |access-date=14 March 2022}}
Gallery
Image:Starr_010704-0070_Sphaeropteris_cooperi.jpg|Growing in Makawao, Maui, Hawai{{okina}}i
Image:Cyathea cooperi insertion of fronds.JPG|Detail of trunk and insertion of fronds
Image:Funchal, Monte - Cyathea cooperi (Australischer Baumfarn) IMG 1891.JPG|Detail of trunk
Image:Funchal, Monte - Cyathea cooperi (Australischer Baumfarn) IMG 1893.JPG|Unfurling crosiers
Image:Funchal, Monte - Cyathea cooperi (Australischer Baumfarn) IMG 2015.JPG|Unfurling crosiers
Image:Funchal, Monte - Cyathea cooperi (Australischer Baumfarn) IMG 1916.JPG|Crown
File:Funchal Jardim botanico Cyathea cooperi 2016 1.jpg|In The Madeira botanical garden
File:Funchal Jardim Monte Cyathea cooperi 2016 2.jpg|Madeira
File:Cyathea cooperi IMG 20190502 120141.jpg|Leaf scars (horizontal trunk)
File:Cyathea cooperi P9110031.jpg|Fertile leaf frond
References
{{Reflist|refs=
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{{Commons category|Sphaeropteris cooperi}}
=Further reading=
- Notes on the Status of an Invasive Australian Tree Fern (Cyathea cooperi) in Hawaiian Rain Forests. A. C. Medeiros, L. L. Loope, T. Flynn, S. J. Anderson, L. W. Cuddihy, K. A. Wilson. American Fern Journal, Vol. 82, No. 1 (Jan. - Mar., 1992), pp. 27–33. {{doi|10.2307/1547758}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q15578405|from2=Q687435|from3=Q38229739}}
Category:Flora of New South Wales
Category:Trees of mild maritime climate