Etymology: Honouring Denis Heenan of Swaziland, who recognised this as a distinct species. Literature: Illustrations: Vernacular: Historical notes: Described in 1969 by South African botanist R. Allen Dyer. Distinguishing features: Closest to E. paucidentatus, but a plant of smaller stature with shorter leaves that are generally lighter in colour, more persistently tomentose, and more rigidly upturned to form a cup-shaped crown. Cones of E. heenanii are smaller and greenish brown, and pollen and seed cones are also almost identical. Distribution and habitat: Southern Transvaal Province, South Africa, and adjacent parts of Swaziland, in grassland on steep slopes. Conservation: 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants category E.
Description:
Plants arborescent; stem 3 m tall, 25-35 cm diam. Leaves 100-125 cm long, light or bright green, semiglossy, flat (not keeled) in section (opposing leaflets inserted at 180° on rachis); rachis green, incurved, curving stiffly upwards, slightly twisted in some leaves; petiole recurved, with no prickles; leaf-base collar not present; basal leaflets not reducing to spines. Leaflets lanceolate, strongly discolorous, not overlapping, not lobed, insertion angle obtuse (45-80°); margins flat, or incurved; upper margin entire (no teeth); lower margin entire (no teeth); median leaflets 12-15 cm long, 15-20 mm wide. Pollen cones 1-3, ovoid, yellow, 27-30 cm long, 15-17 cm diam. Seed cones 1-3, ovoid, yellow, 23-30 cm long, 17-18 cm diam. Seeds oblong, 23-25 mm long, 14-18 mm wide, sarcotesta red.
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