Cibotium
Encyclopedia
Cibotium is a genus of eleven species of tropical tree fern
—subject to much confusion and revision—distributed fairly narrowly in Hawaii
(four species, plus a hybrid, collectively known as hāpuu), Southeast Asia
(five species), and the cloud forest
s of Central America
and Mexico
(two species). Some of the species currently listed in the literature seem to be synonyms or local-variant subspecies
. Cibotium glaucum, from Hawaii, is the most frequently encountered Cibotium species in the horticultural
trade, together with its sibling species Cibotium chamissoi and the potentially huge Cibotium menziesii
. The remaining Hawaiian Cibotium, C. nealiae, is a 1 metres (3.3 ft) dwarf variety, restricted to the island of Kauai
that is never seen in the horticultural trade. Precise identification of Cibotium species is difficult, although all have shiny and rather waxy frond
s when viewed from above, with varying degrees of powdery-pale blush when seen from underneath. The natural habitat of Cibotium is among the dripping trees and stream gulleys of the rainforests on Hawaii's windward
volcanic
slopes.
Pressure on Hawaiian Cibotium habitats comes from development encroaching on the forested areas, especially the more accessible lower lying areas which are commercially attractive for land clearance. A less obvious threat comes from an invasive
introduced tree fern species: Cyathea cooperi
(the most popular garden tree fern in the United States
), which has escaped from the islands' suburban gardens and now out-competes the endemic flora. Wind-blown spores from this rapidly growing Australia
n import can migrate many miles into pristine Cibotium forests. This is a fairly recent phenomenon, but one which may eventually have grave consequences for the tree fern ecosystem in Hawaii.
The other Cibotium species that often surface in botanical collections are Cibotium schiedei and Cibotium regale (Mexico
), plus Cibotium barometz
(Asia
). The latter species is best known for its role in ancient medicine
, and even today its hairs are a staple ingredient in ointments used in natural Chinese remedies. The medieval world was beguiled by stories that claimed C. barometz, the "Scythian lamb
", was half-sheep and half vegetable.
There are no publicly accessible Cibotium collections growing outdoors in the United Kingdom
- although they are sometimes glimpsed in California
n garden designs - but there are two outstanding glasshouse collections at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
, and at RBG Edinburgh
in Scotland
.
Cyatheales
The order Cyatheales is a taxonomic division of the fern subclass, Cyatheatae, which includes the tree ferns. No clear morphological features characterize all of the Cyatheales, but DNA sequence data indicates that the order is monophyletic. Some species in the Cyatheales have tree-like growth...
—subject to much confusion and revision—distributed fairly narrowly in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
(four species, plus a hybrid, collectively known as hāpuu), Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
(five species), and the cloud forest
Cloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
s of Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(two species). Some of the species currently listed in the literature seem to be synonyms or local-variant subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
. Cibotium glaucum, from Hawaii, is the most frequently encountered Cibotium species in the horticultural
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
trade, together with its sibling species Cibotium chamissoi and the potentially huge Cibotium menziesii
Cibotium menziesii
The Hāpuu ii or Hawaiian Tree Fern is a species of tree fern that is endemic to the islands of Hawaii. It is named after the Scottish naturalist Archibald Menzies...
. The remaining Hawaiian Cibotium, C. nealiae, is a 1 metres (3.3 ft) dwarf variety, restricted to the island of Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
that is never seen in the horticultural trade. Precise identification of Cibotium species is difficult, although all have shiny and rather waxy frond
Frond
The term frond refers to a large, divided leaf. In both common usage and botanical nomenclature, the leaves of ferns are referred to as fronds and some botanists restrict the term to this group...
s when viewed from above, with varying degrees of powdery-pale blush when seen from underneath. The natural habitat of Cibotium is among the dripping trees and stream gulleys of the rainforests on Hawaii's windward
Windward and leeward
Windward is the direction upwind from the point of reference. Leeward is the direction downwind from the point of reference. The side of a ship that is towards the leeward is its lee side. If the vessel is heeling under the pressure of the wind, this will be the "lower side"...
volcanic
Volcanism
Volcanism is the phenomenon connected with volcanoes and volcanic activity. It includes all phenomena resulting from and causing magma within the crust or mantle of a planet to rise through the crust and form volcanic rocks on the surface....
slopes.
Pressure on Hawaiian Cibotium habitats comes from development encroaching on the forested areas, especially the more accessible lower lying areas which are commercially attractive for land clearance. A less obvious threat comes from an invasive
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
introduced tree fern species: Cyathea cooperi
Cyathea cooperi
Cyathea cooperi, also known as the Australian tree fern, lacy tree fern, scaly tree fern, or Cooper’s tree fern, is a medium-to-large, fast growing tree fern native to Australia. This fern grows to in height with a thick trunk...
(the most popular garden tree fern in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
), which has escaped from the islands' suburban gardens and now out-competes the endemic flora. Wind-blown spores from this rapidly growing Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n import can migrate many miles into pristine Cibotium forests. This is a fairly recent phenomenon, but one which may eventually have grave consequences for the tree fern ecosystem in Hawaii.
The other Cibotium species that often surface in botanical collections are Cibotium schiedei and Cibotium regale (Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
), plus Cibotium barometz
Cibotium barometz
Cibotium barometz, golden chicken fern, woolly fern, is a species of tree fern native to parts of China and to the western part of the Malay Peninsula...
(Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
). The latter species is best known for its role in ancient medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, and even today its hairs are a staple ingredient in ointments used in natural Chinese remedies. The medieval world was beguiled by stories that claimed C. barometz, the "Scythian lamb
Vegetable Lamb of Tartary
The Vegetable Lamb of Tartary is a legendary zoophyte of central Asia, believed to grow sheep as its fruit. The sheep were connected to the plant by an umbilical cord and grazed the land around the plant...
", was half-sheep and half vegetable.
There are no publicly accessible Cibotium collections growing outdoors in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
- although they are sometimes glimpsed in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
n garden designs - but there are two outstanding glasshouse collections at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
, and at RBG Edinburgh
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular tourist attraction. Originally founded in 1670 as a physic garden to grow medicinal plants, today it occupies four sites across Scotland — Edinburgh,...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Species
- Cibotium arachnoideum
- Cibotium assamicum
- Cibotium barometzCibotium barometzCibotium barometz, golden chicken fern, woolly fern, is a species of tree fern native to parts of China and to the western part of the Malay Peninsula...
(L.) J.Sm.John Smith (botanist)John Smith was an English botanist who was the first curator at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew , starting in 1841. He had first been employed at the gardens as a stove boy in 1822...
- Scythian LambVegetable Lamb of TartaryThe Vegetable Lamb of Tartary is a legendary zoophyte of central Asia, believed to grow sheep as its fruit. The sheep were connected to the plant by an umbilical cord and grazed the land around the plant...
(ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, western Malay PeninsulaMalay PeninsulaThe Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
) - Cibotium chamissoi Kaulf. - Hawaiian tree fern, Hāpuu ii
- Cibotium cumingiiCibotium cumingiiCibotium cumingii is a species of tree fern, of the genus Cibotium. It is named after the 19th century colleector, Hugh Cuming. Its apex and young fronds are covered with reddish hairs. It can be found growing in open forest or in hilly areas in the Philippines and in Taiwan....
Kunze, 1841 (PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, TaiwanTaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
) - Cibotium glaucum (Sm.) Hook. & Arn. - Hawaiian tree fern, Hāpuu pulu
- Cibotium menziesiiCibotium menziesiiThe Hāpuu ii or Hawaiian Tree Fern is a species of tree fern that is endemic to the islands of Hawaii. It is named after the Scottish naturalist Archibald Menzies...
Hook.William Jackson HookerSir William Jackson Hooker, FRS was an English systematic botanist and organiser. He held the post of Regius Professor of Botany at Glasgow University, and was the first Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He enjoyed the friendship and support of Sir Joseph Banks for his exploring,...
& Arn., 1844 - Hawaiian tree fern, Hāpuu ii - Cibotium nealiae - Hawaiian tree fern, Hāpuu
- Cibotium regale - Royal cibotium
- Cibotium schiedei - Mexican tree fern
- Cibotium sumatranum