The Cyatheaceae is a family of fern that includes the world's tallest tree ferns, which reach heights up to 20 m. They are also very ancient plants, appearing in the fossil record in the late Jurassic, though the modern genera likely appeared in the Tertiary.

The Cyatheaceae has important conservation value and scientific research value. It is called a "living fossil" and classified as the first class of national protected plant.