Common name: Prickly Tree Fern
Cyathea leichhardtiana (F.Muell.) Copel. APNI* 
Description: Trunk 1–7 m high, 5–15 cm diam., covered with prickly persistent stipe bases; stipes dark brown to black, scales of base very pale, to 6 cm long and 1 mm wide.
Fronds to 3 m long; stipe commonly 20 cm long, spines to 4 mm long, lower surface of ultimate rachises shiny, red-brown, prickly; lamina 3-pinnate, very dark green above, paler below, ultimate segments with ± entire margins or bluntly toothed.
Sori lacking true indusium, base of sorus bearing a ring of scales.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread in warm and cool rainforest.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT
Other Australian states: Qld Vic.
Text by Peter G. Wilson
Taxon concept: P.D. Bostock (1998)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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