not available
Micronesian Names by Island or Island Groups:Aamaaree (Chuuk), Katar (Pohnpei, note: another native tree fern species of Cyathea (C. ponapeana (Hosokawa) Glassman?) also known as Katar on Pohnpei is found in the Pohnpeian cloud forest), Foa or Po (Kosraean names for Cyathea tree ferns).
Description: Cyathea nigricans is a native tree fern that can grow to heights of 8-10 m (25-30 ft), with blackish, thick, fibrous trunks that have a soft inner core. The inner core is very durable, and can remain in contact with the soil for as many as 20 years before rotting. C. nigricans produces large clustered fronds with petioles that are 1-2 m (3-6 ft) long, divided twice and are arranged at the furry, terminal ends of the stem (trunk), which is thick, dark and fibrous but has a durable soft inner core. The midribs of the fronds are about 3-5 m (9-15 ft) long, blackish and hairy (pubescent). The brown spores are confined in multiple round sporangia located on the undersides of fronds where they are arranged oppositely on each of the sub-leaflets.
Distribution: As note above under Cyathea lunulata, tree ferns in the genus Cyathea (syn. Sphaeropteris) are very common is some cultivated and native forest areas of the high volcanic islands of the Caroline group in Micronesia; Costion and Lorence (2012) refered to the native tree ferns found in Micronesia as belonging to the genus Sphaeropteris and provided a brief review of their distribution:
“There are three native tree fern species in Micronesia, formerly placed in Cyathea. Two of them are considered endemic. They are both locally abundant but Sphaeropteris aramaganensis is only known from three small islands in the N. Marianas on high volcanic slopes. S. nigricans occurs commonly in open savannas and in the forest understory of the Caroline Islands. S. lunulata is less common, but also occurs in Southeast Asia” (Costion and Lorence 2012).
Uses by Island Group:
Uses in Pohnpei: Cyathea nigricans, known as Katar on Pohnpeian,is the dominant plant in the lower canopy of the native rainforest areas of Pohnpei and is an important component of the montane cloud forest on that island, where itis usually found in shady, damp areas. Note: another native tree fern species in genus Cyathea also known as Katar on Pohnpei is found in the cloud forest (C. ponapeana (Hosokawa) Glassman?). The strong, durable inner tree fern cores of Katar plants are commonly used as house posts which may last for up to 20 years; in addition, Katar wood is used to make fence posts and for numerous other purposes such as foot bridges in Pohnpei. The trunks have also been used as supports or planting sticks for commercial black pepper vines (Piper nigrum). In temporary shelters in the forest, the large leaves are used as thatch for the roofs and walls, especially when it is cold and wet. The leaves can also be piled up to serve as a mattress and blanket. Leaves and leaf buds are also use in local medicine. Two types of the tree ferns are traditionally recognized, one which produces juice which stains red (Nahnwalaiding), and the other which produces a greyish juice. Leaves and leaf buds are also sources of local medicine. For example, the soft inner core of Katar is used as treatments for cuts and wounds, and traditionally its use has been connected with sorcery. According to Riesenberg (1948:426), the leaves of this tree fern are reportedly pounded, squeezed, and the liquid is ingested for contraceptive purposes on Pohnpei. Unfortunately, during the second half of the 20th century, the increasing number of black pepper farms on Pohnpei resulted in the drastic reduction in the lowland population of Katar tree ferns; and with newer roads now providing access to several inland locations, the upland populations of Katar are also threatened (see Balick et al. 2009 for an extensive description of traditional medicinal and other uses of Katar, which they listed as Spaeropteris nigricans); also see http://www.comfsm.fm/~dleeling/botany/1998/vhp/cyathea.html).
Use on Kosrae: Dr. Virendra M. Verma, Researcher and Extension Specialist at the Kosrae Agricultural Experiment Station, referred to the relatively recent exploitation of native tree ferns in the Caroline Islands for their use a vine support in the commercial cultivation of black pepper; this over use problem was reported in January of 2018 within a description of a research project entitled: “Integrated research and outreach on in vitro multiplication, sustainable, organic and climate-smart commercial cultivation of black pepper” (http://www.micronesialandgrant.org/research/college-of-micronesia-fsm/kosrae-agricultural-experiment-station/):
“Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) a flowering vine of Piperaceae family, is valued for its dried berries called peppercorns, which are used as a spice and for medicinal purposes. Native to the humid jungles of the Malabar Coast of Southwestern India, the plant is cultivated in the tropics worldwide. In Micronesia, it is gaining commercial importance as an important cash crop because of premium price. Traditionally, the trunks of two cultivars of large native tree fern (Cyathea nigricans) are used as supports for black pepper cultivation. However, short life-span of these tree ferns along with the rapid decline in their population due to increasing use of tree trunks for construction, is becoming a limitation for commercial black pepper cultivation in the region.”
In order to encourage sustainable black pepper cultivation in the eastern Caroline Islands region, integrated research, outreach and educational activities related to this over use of native Cyathea nigricans tree ferns has inspired a project entitled “Black pepper micropropagation for elite seedling production: Comparison of local practices and commercial cultivation methods.” According to Dr. Verma, the Project Director:
“This project is approved and funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) for Micronesia. This project is of great significance as it is specifically designed to develop black pepper micropropagation and nursery management systems to produce and ensure the year-round availability of identical, disease-free and high-quality planting material. The objectives of the project include: finding alternative supports to overcome the limitations caused due to shortage of tree ferns, determining appropriate fertilizer type and doses, along with the development and publication of a commercial black pepper cultivation guide appropriate for Micronesia (italics added for emphasis).”