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Encephalartos relictus

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Encephalartos relictus
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. relictus
Binomial name
Encephalartos relictus
P.J.H.Hurter

Encephalartos relictus, also known as the Parlota cycad, is a species of cycad in Eswatini. The cycad is evolutionarily extinct; the cycad has only male plants, meaning that they cannot produce seeds. However, J. J. P. du Preez was able to propagate some offshoots of the specimens.[3]

Description

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It is a cycad with an arborescent habit, with a stem up to 2.5 m tall and 40–45 cm in diameter, with secondary stems originating from basal suckers. The leaves, pinnate, of a bluish-green color, are 1–2 m long, supported by a petiole about 15 cm long, and composed of numerous pairs of lanceolate, coriaceous leaflets, arranged on the rachis with an angle of about 40°, long up to 20–25 cm, with entire margin and a pungent. It is a dioecious species, of which, however, only male specimens are known which have from 1 to 3 sub-conical cones, about 20–24 cm long and 12–15 cm broad, of greenish-yellow sarcotesta.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Bösenberg, J.D. (2023) [errata version of 2022 assessment]. "Encephalartos relictus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T41764A243432097. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T41764A243432097.en. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Appendices". CITES. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ "Parlota Cycad". Africa Cycads. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  4. ^ "Encephalartos relictus: a new species from Southern Africa" (PDF). Cycad. Retrieved 2024-01-03.