Brooks' alsophila
CR

Brooks' alsophila

Alsophila brooksii

Unknown

Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Omar Monzon Carmona, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Omar Monzon Carmona

Overview

Alsophila brooksii, synonym Cyathea brooksii, is a species of tree fern native to Cuba, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, where it grows on serpentine soils in shaded ravines, along streams, and on forested slopes at an altitude of 250–950 m. The trunk is prostrate and only about 6 cm in diameter. Fronds are pinnate or bipinnate and up to 2 m long.

The base of the rachis is covered with blackish scales that have a paler margin. Sori occur in two rows, one along each side of the pinnule midvein.

Brooks' alsophila is critically endangered primarily due to severe habitat loss and fragmentation from deforestation and agricultural expansion in its limited range in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. The species has an extremely restricted distribution and small population size, making it highly vulnerable to any further habitat degradation or loss.

Threat summary

Other threatened species in Cyatheaceae

CR

Cyathea aemula

Unknown
CR

Cyathea eggersii

Unknown
CR

Cyathea obnoxia

Unknown
CR

Cyathea haughtii

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Brooks' alsophila classified as Critically Endangered?
Brooks' alsophila is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Brooks' alsophila is critically endangered primarily due to severe habitat loss and fragmentation from deforestation and agricultural expansion in its limited range in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. The species has an extremely restricted distribution and small population size, making it highly vulnerable to any further habitat degradation or loss.
Where does Brooks' alsophila live?
Brooks' alsophila occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Brooks' alsophila?
The main threats to Brooks' alsophila are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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