Cyathea rojasiana is a species of tree fern endemic to Panama.
Description It can grow 2 m tall.Back from the dead: Tropical tree fern repurposes its dead leaves. (2024, January 24). ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 9, 2024, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240129122507.htm Seemingly dead, senescent fronds can root once they touch the ground.Incorvaia, D. (2024, February 7). This weird fern is the first known plant that turns its dead leaves into new roots. Science News. Retrieved February 9, 2024, from https://www.sciencenews.org/article/fern-first-plant-dead-leaves-new-roots
Taxonomy Publication It was first described as Cyathea panamensis A.Rojas by Alexander Francisco Rojas Alvarado in 2001. However, this was a Nomen illegitimum. Therefore, it was later published as Cyathea rojasiana Lehnert by Marcus Lehnert in 2011.Dalling, J. W., Garcia, E., Espinosa, C., Pizano, C., Ferrer, A., & Lira Viana, J. (2024). Zombie leaves: Novel repurposing of senescent fronds in the tree fern Cyathea rojasiana in a tropical montane forest. Ecology, e4248.
Distribution and habitat It occurs in the tropical montane forest of Panama.
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