Description

Key Characters: Cibotium nealiae may be recognized in the field by its usually short, thick caudices; naked stipes except at the very base where they are covered with wooly, usually golden hairs; moderately light bluish gray segment undersurfaces clothed with many minute tan, raised dots and long and short, tan cobwebby (arachnoid) hairs; wide ultimate segments with wide and shallow sinuses; and often prominent veins on the upper surfaces of the ultimate segments. The stipes of shaded plants are often dark purple, accentuating the linear white lines on their sides.

Growth Form: Terrestrial tree ferns

Stems: Caudices: Short, stubby, 0.5–1 m tall, around 18+ cm diameter

Roots:

Leaves: Fronds (stipe and blade) to 6 m long. Ultimate segments: 5–9.5 mm wide, apexes obtuse Veins usually quite prominent.

Sori:

Gametophyte:

Ploidy:

Habitat: Locally abundant in mesic to wet forests.

Elevation Range: 135-1300 m