Encephalartos septentrionalis

Encephalartos septentrionalis, the Nile cycad, is a species of cycad in South Sudan, northern Uganda, northern Democratic Republic of the Congo (in the Okapi Faunal Reserve), and the interior of the Central African Republic.[1]

Encephalartos septentrionalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Cycadophyta
Class: Cycadopsida
Order: Cycadales
Family: Zamiaceae
Genus: Encephalartos
Species:
E. septentrionalis
Binomial name
Encephalartos septentrionalis
Schweinf. ex Eichler

Description

It is a cycad with a globose stem, at least partly underground, up to 2 m high and with a diameter of 25-30 cm.

The leaves, pinnate, 90–150 cm long, are arranged in a crown at the apex of the stem and are supported by a 2.5–5 cm long petiole, without thorns; each leaf is composed of 40-50 pairs of lanceolate leaflets, with entire margins, on average xx-xx cm, greyish-green in color.

It is a dioecious species with male specimens that have up to 8-10 ellipsoid cones, 12–20 cm long and 6–8 cm broad, pedunculated, and female specimens with solitary cylindrical, pendulous cones, 23–35 cm long and with a diameter of 18–20 cm, yellowish-brown in color when ripe.

The seeds are coarsely ovoid, covered by a reddish-colored sarcotesta.[2]

References
  1. Bösenberg, J.D. (2010). "Encephalartos septentrionalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T41950A10609549. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41950A10609549.en. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  2. "Encephalartos septentrionalis". PlantNET Home Page - National Herbarium of New South Wales. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
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