Prop. 11.8 - Cites

Prop. 11.8 

CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS FOR AMENDMENT OF APPENDICES I AND II 

Proposals resulting from reviews by the Plants Committees 

A. Proposal 

a) Change the current listings of Cyatheaceae spp. to Cyathea spp. (including Alsophila, 

Nephelea, Sphaeropteris, Trichipteris). 

b) Change the current listing of Dicksoniaceae spp. to Dicksonia spp. (originating in the Americas 

only) and Cibotium barometz. 

B. Proponent 

Swiss Confederation. 

C. Supporting Statement 

1. Taxonomy 

1.1 Class: a) Filicidae 

b) Filicidae 

1.2 Order: a) Cyatheales 

b) Dicksoniales 

1.3 Family: a) Cyatheaceae 

b) Dicksoniaceae 

1.4 Genus: a) Cyathea spp. (including Alsophila, Nephelea, Sphaeropteris, 

Trichipteris) 

1.5 Scientific synonyms: 

b) i) Dicksonia spp. (originating in the Americas) 

ii) Cibotium: Cibotium barometz 

1.6 Common names: a) English: tree ferns 

French: fougères arborescentes 

Spanish: helechos arborescentes 

1.7 Code numbers: 

2. Biological Parameters 

2.1 Distribution 

b) i) English: tree ferns 

French: fougères arborescentes 

Spanish: helechos arborescentes 

ii) English: Golden haired dog fern 

French: 

Spanish: 

Prop. 11.8 - p. 1

Representatives of the Cyatheaceae and Dicksoniaceae can be found in all tropical regions of 

the world. Some smaller genera have a more restricted, continental distribution. 

Family Genus Comments Commercial 

Trade 

Cyatheaceae Alsophila Included in Cyathea as subgenus --- 

Cyatheaceae Cnemidaria Tropical America; ca. 23 species No 

Cyatheaceae Cyathea Pantropical, 600 species Yes 

Cyatheaceae Nephelea Included in Cyathea as subgenus --- 

Cyatheaceae Sphaeropteris Included in Cyathea as subgenus --- 

Cyatheaceae Trichipteris Included in Cyathea as subgenus --- 

Dicksoniaceae* Calochlaena Tropical Asia, Oceania, segregated from 

Culcita senso stricto 

Dicksoniaceae Cibotium Pantropical 12 species, only C. barometz 

reported to be in trade 

Dicksoniaceae* Culcita Tropical America, 1 species No 

Dicksoniaceae Cystodium Tropical Asia, Oceania, 1 species No 

Dicksoniaceae Dicksonia Tropical America, Oceania, South East Asia 

(high elevations); D. sellowiana: widespread 

from Mexico to South Brazil, height 10m. 

Easy to recognize because of the presence 

golden hairs and the absence of spines or 

scales 

Dicksoniaceae** Thyrsopteris Endemic; Juan Fernandez Island; 1 species No 

Lophosoriaceae Lophosoria 1 species, tropical South America No 

Metaxyaceae Metaxya 1 species, tropical South America No 

* Also treated in a separate family; Culcitaceae (see, e.g., Pichi Sermolli 1977). 

**Also treated in a separate family; Thyrsopteridaceae (see, e.g., Pichi Sermolli 1977). 

2.2 Habitat availability 

2.3 Population status 

The trade data – quality of which was sometimes poor and inconsistent – demonstrated that 

about 60 species of Cyatheaceae and Dicksoniaceae have appeared in international trade. 

Most of the species are traded in very small quantities, almost all for scientific purposes. Ten 

species are traded in significant quantities: Cyathea arborea, Cyathea biformis, Cyathea 

latebrosa, Cyathea lepifera, Calochlaena dubia, Dicksonia antartica, Dicksonia fibrosa, 

Dicksonia sellowiana, Dicksonia squarrosa. These are common, non-threatened species. Only 

Dicksonia sellowiana and Cyathea biformis are considered as ‘Endangered’ in its major 

country of export: Brazil. In Australia and New Zealand, commercial trade of tree fern is well 

regulated. They are export countries for four of the commercially traded species (Calochlaena 

dubia, Dicksonia antartica, Dicksonia fibrosa and Dicksonia squarrosa). D. Given reported that 

there are no threatened species in New Zealand and that there would be no benefit for them 

to be listed by CITES. Trade is mostly national or local, there is little export. 

2.4 Population trends 

Species may be threatened locally, mainly because of habitat destruction. 

2.5 Geographic trends 

Yes 

Yes 

Yes 


Not applicable. 

2.6 Role of the species in its ecosystem 


2.7 Threats 


3. Utilization and Trade 

3.1 National utilization 

Stems of species of Cyathea and Dicksonia are used as substrate for orchid propagation. 

Cibotium barometz is used for its medicinal properties. 

3.2 Legal international trade 

Taxa are traded either as: 

• live plants (all taxa); 

• leaves (Cyathea alata, C. albifrons, C. intermedia, C. novae-caledoniae, C. veillardii, 

Calochlaena dubia); 

• stems (Cyathea contaminans, Calochlaena dubia, Dicksonia fibrosa, D. squarrosa); 

• fibres (Cyathea arborea, Cyathea spp., Dicksonia squarrosa); 

• flowerpots (Dicksonia fibrosa, D. sellowiana); 

• roots and rhizoms (Cibotium barometz). 

Import / Export of Tree Ferns 1996-1997 (data from WCMC) 

Family Taxon Exporter Importer Quantity 

CYAT Alsophila firma CR US 2 

CYAT 

Alsophila 

polystichoides 

CR US 2 

CYAT Alsophila spp. CR, ES US, MA 9 

CYAT Cnemidaria choricarpa CR US 2 

CYAT Cyathea abbottii DO US 4 

CYAT Cyathea alata NC US 2 / 1 ship, leaves 

CYAT Cyathea albifrons NC US 1 ship, leaves 

CYAT Cyathea arborea GT US 139 m2, fibres 

CYAT Cyathea bicrenata CR US 2 

CYAT Cyathea borbonica MG FR 1 

CYAT Cyathea brownii AU, NZ GB 123 

CYAT Cyathea contaminans ID JP, TW 50, 17940 stems 

CYAT Cyathea cooperi AU, NZ, ZA GB 129 

CYAT Cyathea crassa DO US 2 

CYAT Cyathea cunninghamii GB AU 50 

CYAT Cyathea dealbata AU, NZ GB, CA, FR, NL 400+ 

CYAT Cyathea delgadii CR US 2 

CYAT Cyathea dregei HK, ZA US, GB 66 

CYAT Cyathea fulgens DO US 4 


Family Taxon Exporter Importer Quantity 

CYAT Cyathea fulva CR US 2 

CYAT Cyathea imrayana CR US 2 

CYAT Cyathea incisoserrata ZA GB 12 

CYAT Cyathea insignis DO US 2 

CYAT Cyathea intermedia NC US 1 ship, leaves 

CYAT Cyathea lepifera ZA GB 12 

CYAT Cyathea medullaris AU, NZ GB, NL, FR, CA 500+ 

CYAT Cyathea microdonta CR US 2 

CYAT Cyathea milnei ZA GB 6 

CYAT Cyathea minor DO US 4 

CYAT 

Cyathea novaecaledoniae 

NC US 2, 1 ship, leaves 

CYAT Cyathea parvula DO US 2 

CYAT Cyathea pinnula CR US 2 

CYAT Cyathea robertsiana AU GB 1 

CYAT Cyathea robusta AU GB 50 

CYAT Cyathea schiediana CR US 2 

CYAT Cyathea smithii NZ GB, CA, FR 300+ 

CYAT Cyathea stelligera NC US 3 

CYAT Cyathea suprastrigosa CR US 2 

CYAT 

Cyathea 

tomentosissima 

AU, ZA GB 64 

CYAT Cyathea urbanii DO US 2 

CYAT Cyathea vieillardii NC US 2, 1 ship, leaves 

CYAT 

Cyathea 

woodwardiodes 

DO US 2 

CYAT Cyathea woollsiana AU GB 15 

CYAT Cyathea spp. CR, GT, ID, MG, 

ST, AU, CU, FJ, 

PY 

US, FR, PT, GB, 

GH, CH, MU, AT 

160+, fibres 

(300+m3), dried pl. 

(48) 

DICK Calochlaena dubia AU JP, US 50000 leaves, 45000 

stems 

DICK Cibotium barometz CN, HK, VN, CL de, ca, hk, kr, us 100’000+ roots, 25kg 

live 

DICK Cibotium spp. CL, DE, VN DE, CL, US 1, 200gr. derivatives 

DICK Dicksonia antarctica AU, (CA), (FR) NL, AE, AU, FR, 

GB, IT, JP, NL, 

US, CH 

DICK Dicksonia fibrosa NZ GB, JP, NL, CA, 

FR 

DICK Dicksonia gigantea CR US 2 

125’000+ 

150+, 205+ stems, 

590 flowerpots 

DICK Dicksonia sellowiana BR, (ZA) DE, GB 6, 14’400+ flowerpots 

DICK Dicksonia squarrosa NZ GB, JP, CA, FR, 

NL 

DICK 

Dicksonia 

thyrsopteroides 

NC US 1 ship live 

DICK Dicksonia youngiae ZA GB 6 

DICK Dicksonia spp. NZ, CA, AU, PY GB, US, AT 120+ 

220+, fibres+, 

flowerpots+, stems+ 


(from WCMC, Dec. 98) 

in ( ) = re-exports 

3.3 Illegal trade 

Some shipments have been confiscated in the past. There is no information on recent illegal 

trade. 

3.4 Actual or potential trade impacts 

Those taxa for which it is believed that trade might have a negative impact on the populations 

are maintained in Appendix II. 

3.5 Captive breeding or artificial propagation for commercial purposes (outside country of origin) 

Tree ferns of the genera Cyathea and Dicksonia are relatively easy to propagate although this 

is currently not happening on a very large scale. Cibotium barometz is currently not in 

cultivation on a commercial scale. 

4. Conservation and Management 

4.1 Legal status 

4.1.1 National 

Through national legislation, protection is provided in many range States. However, 

the level of this protection may vary between the range States. 

4.1.2 International 

Cyathea capensis, C. dredgei, C. mexicana and C. calwinii have been included in 

Appendix II since 1 July 1975. At the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties 

this listing was amended to Cyatheaceae spp. and at the same time the family 

Dicksoniaceae was also included in Appendix II. 

4.2 Species management 

4.2.1 Population monitoring 


4.2.2 Habitat conservation 


4.2.3 Management measures 

4.3 Control measures 

Harvesting of tree ferns, as part of the forest management, is apparently well 

regulated in Australia and New Zealand. 

4.3.1 International trade 


4.3.2 Domestic measures 



5. Information on Similar Species 

None. 

6. Other Comments 

All range States have been informed about the recommendation of the Plants Committee (see 

below). 

The following Parties expressed support for the proposal: Argentina, Australia, Belize, Bermuda, 

Brazil, Chile, China, Namibia, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, St. Helena (United Kingdom), 

Seychelles, Singapore, Suriname, United States of America. 

Bangladesh indicated in its response that few species occur in its territory, in two densities. It 

would thus support recommendations in favour of strict regulation or prohibition of trade in tree 

ferns from nature. 

7. Additional Remarks 

At its fifth meeting (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, 1994), the Plants Committee discussed a 

document prepared by WCMC, containing information on trade and conservation status. It was 

decided that a more detailed review should be carried out. At its sixth meeting (Tenerife, Spain, 

1995) the Plants Committee discussed the document International trade in tree fern – an 

evaluation of CITES prepared by WCMC under contract with the Secretariat. At its seventh 

meeting (San Juan, Costa Rica, 1996) and eight meeting (Pucón Chile, 1997), the Plants 

Committee discusses this subject in further detail, also in relation to possible identification 

problems. At its ninth meeting (Darwin, Australia, 1999) the Plants Committee, as part of its 

programme on the review of the Appendices, recommended that the current listing of tree ferns be 

amended as proposed in this document. 

8. References 

Buchner R., Dietrich G., Kiehn M., 1997: Tree fern parts in trade in Central and South America. - 

CITES News - Plants, March 1997: 3. 

Pichi Sermolli, R.E.G., 1977: Testamen Pteridophytorum genera in taxonomicum ordinem 

redigendi. - Webbia 31, 313-512. 

Proctor, G.R., 1977: Pteridophyta. In Howard, R.A. (ed.): Flora of the Lesser Antilles 2: 103. - 

Arnold Arboretum, Cambridge, Mass. (USA). 

Tryon R.M., Tryon A.F. (1982) Ferns and allied plants. Springer, New York, Heidelberg, Berlin. 

World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1995) International trade in tree ferns - an evaluation of 

the application of CITES and literature cited therein.

Prop. 11.8 - Cites

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