Encephalartos mackenziei

Encephalartos mackenziei is a species of cycad in South Sudan. It is found in the Didinga Hills of Namorunyang State.[1]

Encephalartos mackenziei
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Cycadophyta
Class: Cycadopsida
Order: Cycadales
Family: Zamiaceae
Genus: Encephalartos
Species:
E. mackenziei
Binomial name
Encephalartos mackenziei
L.E.Newton

Description

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This cycad grows up to 3.5 m tall with a stem diameter of 35 cm. It starts upright but then bends over, producing many secondary stems from basal shoots. The pinnate leaves form a crown at the top of the stem, reaching up to 1.5 m long. Each leaf has several pairs of oval-shaped, leathery, and hairy leaflets, 15–17 cm long, with 3-5 spines on the upper edge and a sharp tip. They attach to the stem at a 45° angle. This species is dioecious, with male plants bearing up to 10 long, slender cones, about 22 cm long and 9 cm wide, initially light green and turning yellow when ripe. Female plants have 1-2 large, egg-shaped cones, about 40 cm long and 16-18 cm wide, initially light green and changing to olive-brown when ripe. The seeds are roughly egg-shaped, 3.5 cm long, and have an orange-red sarcotesta.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b Donaldson, J.S. (2010). "Encephalartos mackenziei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T178878A7633636. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T178878A7633636.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  3. ^ Newton, Leonard E. (2002). "A new species of Encephalartos (Zamiaceae) in Sudan". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 140 (2): 187–192. doi:10.1046/j.1095-8339.2002.00094.x. ISSN 1095-8339.
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