Encephalartos cupidus

Encephalartos cupidus is a species of cycad that is found in the Limpopo Province, South Africa at elevations of 700 up to 1,500.[2]

Encephalartos cupidus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnosperms
Division: Cycadophyta
Class: Cycadopsida
Order: Cycadales
Family: Zamiaceae
Genus: Encephalartos
Species:
E. cupidus
Binomial name
Encephalartos cupidus
R.A.Dyer

Description

It is an acaulic plant, with a partially underground stem, without branches, 15–40 cm tall and 20–30 cm in diameter; secondary stems can originate from shoots that arise at the base of the main stem.

The pinnate leaves, arranged in a crown at the apex of the stem, up to 100 cm long, are composed of lanceolate leaflets, with margins equipped with small spines and arranged on the rachis at an angle of 50-100°.

It is a dioecious species, endowed with solitary male cones, fusiform, pedunculated, of apple green color, 18–30 cm long and with a diameter of 5–8 cm, with broad and rhombic microsporophylls, and female, ovoid cones, in solitary genus but rarely in pairs, 20–30 cm long and with a diameter of 15–20 cm, with macrosporophylls with a warty surface.

The seeds have an ovoid shape, are 25–35 mm long, have a width of 15–20 mm and are covered with an apricot-colored sarcotesta.[3]

References
  1. Donaldson, J.S. (2010). "Encephalartos cupidus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T41884A10567684. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41884A10567684.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. "Encephalartos cupidus in Tropicos".
  3. "Encephalartos cupidus". PlantNET Home Page - National Herbarium of New South Wales. Retrieved 2019-09-17.


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