 |
| The Cycad Pages
| | Encephalartos sclavoi
| |
- Encephalartos sclavoi De Luca, D.W. Stev. & A. Moretti, Delpinoa 29-30: 3-5 (1989). H—K
- TYPE: Tanzania, District Tanga, Gologolo, near Lushoto, Sclavo 2, 4 Jan 1986 (holo K, iso MO).
Etymology:
Honoring Jean Pierre Sclavo of France,
well-known student and collector of cycads, who discovered this species.
Literature:
Illustrations:
Vernacular:
Historical notes:
Described in 1990 by botanists
Aldo Moretti,
D.W. Stevenson and
Paolo Deluca.
Distinguishing features:
Very thick broad leaflets; yellow stalked cones (short stalks in the pollen
cones)
Distribution and habitat: Tanzania
Conservation:
1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants
category R.
Description:
Plants arborescent; stem 1 m tall, 35 cm diam.
Leaves 170-200 cm long, dark green, semiglossy, slightly keeled to
flat in section; rachis green, straight, stiff or gently curved,
somewhat lax, not spirally twisted or slightly twisted in some leaves; petiole
straight, with 1-6 prickles; leaf-base collar not present; basal leaflets
reducing to spines.
Leaflets lanceolate, strongly discolorous, not lobed, insertion angle
obtuse (45-80°); margins incurved; upper margin lightly toothed (1-3
teeth); lower margin lightly toothed (1-3 teeth); median leaflets 18-25 cm long,
30-40 mm wide.
Pollen cones 1-2, narrowly ovoid, yellow, 20-25 cm long, 10 cm diam.
Seed cones 1-2, ovoid, yellow, 30-40 cm long, 15-20 cm diam.
Seeds oblong, 25-30 mm long, 20 mm wide, sarcotesta yellow.