Overview
Also known as: Alsophila alta
Family: Cyatheaceae
Recognition:- the upper surface of the frond axes is reddish.
- small, white scales are abundant on the lower surface of the smaller frond axes (while numerous hairs are not present, and the tertiary pinnae are not lobed; cf. C. decurrens).
Distribution: in forest throughout Fiji, except perhaps at higher altitudes. Also occurs in Solomon Islands and Samoa.
Cyathea alta is often confused with the similarly-named C. alata, a New Caledonian endemic. However, they are two quite different species, with the New Caledonian species more closely related to C. decurrens.