Thyrsopteris

The genus Thyrsopteris consists of a single living species, Thyrsopteris elegans, which is only found on the Archipiélago Juan Fernández (Juan Fernández Islands).

It forms a massive trunk, which may be as tall as one to two meters (3 to 6.5 feet), and is covered with long hairs. The fronds are between 2 and 3.5 meters (6 to 11.5 feet) in length. Each frond lasts for two years.

Worldwide distribution of Thyrsopteris elegans:

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The genus was first described in 1835, and is related to fossils such as Thyrsopterorachis mesozoica from the Late Cretaceous Epoch (65 to 100 million years ago) of the remote island of Hokkaido in northern Japan. It is thought that Thyrsopteris elegans went extinct in continental South America during the Pleistocene climatic changes.

Thyrsopteris is a member of the Dicksoniaceae family (which also includes Calochlaena, Cibotium, Culcita, Dicksonia, and Cystodiopteris). It is also sometimes placed in the family Thyrsopteridaceae.

Click here for Thyrsopteris elegans in the the Encyclopedia of Life.

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