Sphaeropteris cooperi
Australian tree fern
Australia
Cyathea cooperi (syn.)
Sphaeropteris cooperi at Green Library. John Rawlings, ca. 2005
This tree fern is similar in appearance to Dicksonia. A distinguishing feature is that the spore-bearing organs under the leaflets are closer to the midrib rather than being closer to the leaf margin as with Dicksonia. The comparatively smooth trunk is textured with oval leaf scars. There is a row along the north side of Green Library. Several of both kinds of tree fern are planted in the enclosed southwest courtyard of Jack McDonald Hall.
Illustrations: gallery.
About this Entry: The main text of this entry is from the book Trees of Stanford and Environs, by Ronald Bracewell, published 2005. McDonald Hall location added; genus name updated (Dec 2023, SP).
