Encephalartos transvenosus

Encephalartos transvenosus
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Cycadophyta
Class:	Cycadopsida
Order:	Cycadales
Family:	Zamiaceae
Genus:	Encephalartos
Species:	E. transvenosus
Binomial name
Encephalartos transvenosus Stapf & Burtt-Davy

Encephalartos transvenosus (Modjadji Cycad or Modjadji's Cycad) is a palm-like cycad in the family Zamiaceae. It is found in Limpopo Province in South Africa. It is also sometimes called "Modjadji's palm" and is named after the Rain Queen. The species name transvenosus refers to the fine network of veins between the main veins. These can be seen when the leaf is held up to the light.^[1]

Description

The tree grows up to twelve metres tall with a thick trunk deeply scored in a netted pattern. This is crowned by nearly straight, shiny, spiny pinnate leaves up to two and a half metres long. The leaflets are broad, the middle ones up to about three centimetres in width, slightly curved and with small marginal teeth. Two to four large cones are borne in the heart of the leaves. The female cone may reach eighty centimetres long, weigh thirty four kilograms and have brilliant orange-red seeds.^[2]

Range

Modjadji's cycad grows in the mountains of northern Transvaal and particularly on two hills near Modjadji near Duivelskloof. It is a tall majestic tree and has been protected by generations of rain-queens. It forms pure forests on these hills, the only cycad forests in Southern Africa.^[2]

References

1. ^ The Gymnosperm Database.
2. ^ ^{a b} Palmer, Eve and Norah Pitman. Trees of Southern Africa. 1972.

• Donaldson (2003). Encephalartos transvenosus. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.

External links

• Cycad Pages: Encephalartos transvenosus
• "Encephalartos transvenosus". Plantz Afrika. http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantefg/encephtrans.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-04.