AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Cyathea gigantea is the largest among these four species and is known to grow as high as coconut trees while the Cythea spinulosa stands out because of the spikes on the trunk of the plant that give the fern its name, he added.

Detailed explanation-2: -Size range and habitat The ferns are extremely diverse in habitat, form, and reproductive methods. In size alone they range from minute filmy plants only 1–1.2 cm (0.39–0.47 inch) tall to huge tree ferns 10 to 25 metres (30 to 80 feet) in height.

Detailed explanation-3: -Tree ferns are not actually trees, but with their tall ‘trunks’ and dramatic crown of fronds, they do look very tree-like. The trunk is actually a mat of fibrous aerial roots that need to be kept moist. The most common species tree fern grown in the UK is Dicksonia antarctica.

Detailed explanation-4: -Typically, when we think of ferns, we envision plants such as the painted ferns (Athyrium niponicum) or autumn ferns (Dryopteris erythrosora), which achieve a mature height of about 18 to 24 inches. But, in its native habitat of Australia, a tree fern can grow up to 50 feet tall.

Detailed explanation-5: -First of all, tree ferns are ferns, but they are not really trees. To be a tree, a plant must be woody (undergo secondary plant growth, which thickens stems and roots) and grow to a height of at least three metres when mature.