Alsophila bryophila facts for kids

Alsophila bryophila, also known by its old name Cyathea bryophila, is a type of tree fern. These plants are special because they grow like trees, with a tall trunk and large leaves called fronds. This particular tree fern is found only in Puerto Rico.

It prefers to live in wet, mountainous areas, often in cloud forests or "mossy forests." These are places where there's a lot of moisture in the air, and moss often covers everything. You can find A. bryophila growing in the understory, which is the area beneath the taller trees, at heights between 750 and 1200 meters above sea level.

About Alsophila bryophila

What It Looks Like

The trunk of Alsophila bryophila stands straight up and can grow as tall as 7 meters (about 23 feet). It's usually around 10 centimeters (4 inches) wide. The fronds, which are the fern's leaves, can reach up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) long. They are often divided into many smaller leaflets, making them look feathery.

If you look at the underside of the main stem of a frond (called the rachis), you'll see it's covered in fine hairs. It also has some flat, thin pieces called scales near its base. These scales can be brown or have two colors, like pale with brown edges.

On the underside of the small leaflets, you'll find tiny clusters called sori. These sori are where the fern produces its spores, which are like seeds for ferns. Each sorus is covered by a small, scale-like flap called an indusium, which protects the developing spores.

How It Grows

Alsophila bryophila is a very slow-growing plant. It's reported to only grow about 5 centimeters (2 inches) taller each year. This slow growth is similar to another type of fern called Dicksonia. Because it grows so slowly, scientists believe that these tree ferns can live for a very long time, possibly more than 150 years!

Its Relatives

The closest plant relatives to Alsophila bryophila are other tree ferns. These include Alsophila brooksii, Alsophila hotteana, and Alsophila minor. They all share similar characteristics and are part of the same plant family.

Why the Name?

The second part of the fern's scientific name, bryophila, gives us a clue about where it lives. "Bryophila" means "bryophyte loving." Bryophytes are a group of plants that include mosses. So, the name tells us that this fern loves to grow in mossy forests, which is exactly where it's often found!

Growing This Fern

While Alsophila bryophila can be grown by people, it needs very specific conditions to thrive. It requires a consistently cool and moist environment. This means it needs plenty of water and a cool temperature, much like its natural cloud forest home.

This fern also seems to be more easily damaged by insects compared to other types of ferns. In the plant selling business, A. bryophila is sometimes mistakenly called "Cyathea pubescens." However, "Cyathea pubescens" is actually the old name for a different, unrelated fern called Alsophila auneae.