Tree Fern

Ever wonder what dinosaurs saw as they wandered across the Jurassic landscape? Chances are, they spent lots of time traveling through forests made up of towering tree ferns. Several types of ancient tree ferns still loom above the tropical terrain and thrive in cooler climates south of the equator. Some species can grow to 80 feet (24 m) or more, with fronds measuring almost 10 feet (3 m) in length! Many sport spiny leaves that may have once provided protection from plant-eating dinosaurs during prehistoric times.

Noted Field Museum botanist Julian Steyermark collected this example of Cyathea consimilis, which has fronds that measure more than two feet in width. It and several other species new to science (some of which now bear Steyermark's name) come from the Venezuelan Amazon. As part of the Museum's collections, these specimens provide a record of a habitat now increasingly endangered by deforestation and illegal plant trade. Documenting the existence and range of plant species helps inform conservation activities and ensures that threated areas are set aside for protection.