CYATHEA BRUNONIANA (WALL EX HOOK) C.B.CLARKEET BAKER: FIRST REPORT OF A THREATENED SPECIES OF TREE FERN FROM TRIPURA, INDIA

The generic name Cyathea came from the Greek word Kyatheion which means little cup. It refers to the sori found in the undersurface of the fronds. Cyathea brunoniana is a majestic plant which is fast disappearing from its natural habitat. The tree ferns mostly grow in warm humid environment in shady forest floor. Cyathea brunoniana is reported from some places of North East India including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Sikkim from time to time but not from Tripura. The present communication records it as first report from the state of Tripura. It presents brief taxonomic description, distribution, causes of depletion, conservation strategies and cultivation technique of this tree fern.