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
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Cycadophyta
Class: Cycadopsida
Order: Cycadales
Family: Zamiaceae
Genus: Encephalartos
Species:
E. mackenziei
Binomial name
Encephalartos mackenziei
L.E.Newton

Description

It is a cycad with a stem up to 3.5 m tall and 35 cm in diameter, first erect, then decombent, characterized by the presence of numerous secondary stems originating from basal shoots. [2] The pinnate leaves, arranged like a crown at the apex of the stem, are up to 1.5 m long, composed of numerous pairs of obovate, coriaceous, tomentose leaves, 15–17 cm long, with 3-5 spines on the upper margin and a pungent apex, inserted on the rachis with an angle of 45 °. It is a dioecious species, with male specimens showing up to 10 cylindrical, pedunculated cones, about 22 cm long and 9 cm broad, light green in color that turns towards yellow when ripe, and female specimens with 1-2 long, ovoid cones about 40 cm and wide 16-18 cm, initially light green in color, from olive green to brownish yellow when ripe. The seeds are roughly ovoid, 3.5 cm, covered with an orange-red seed coat.[2]

References
  1. 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 15 January 2020.
  2. "Encephalartos mackenziei". PlantNET Home Page - National Herbarium of New South Wales. 1995-04-11. Retrieved 2019-09-17.


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