| Encephalartos arenarius | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Cycadophyta |
| Class: | Cycadopsida |
| Order: | Cycadales |
| Family: | Zamiaceae |
| Genus: | Encephalartos |
| Species: | E. arenarius |
| Binomial name | |
| Encephalartos arenarius R.A. Dyer | |
Encephalartos arenarius is aspecies ofcycad in the familyZamiaceae. It isendemic toSouth Africa, where it is limited to theEastern Cape. Its common names includeAlexandria cycad anddune cycad.[1]
This plant has an egg-shaped stem partially buried in the ground, measuring 20-30 cm in diameter and reaching a height of one meter from the base. Its lanceolate leaves are 100 to 150 cm long, leathery, and arranged alternately along the stem. The base of the leaf stalk is smooth on one side and hairy on the other.
The plant is dioecious, with elongated male cones measuring 30–50 cm long and 8–15 cm in diameter, and cylindrical female cones measuring 35–60 cm long and 20–30 cm in diameter. The seeds are approximately spherical, with redsarcotesta, and 20-25 mm wide.[3]
This species lives in densely woodeddune habitat and scrub. It is anendangered species with a maximum global population estimated at around 1500 mature individuals. Most subpopulations occur near the town ofAlexandria, Eastern Cape. The main threat to the species is overcollection.[1]
Media related toEncephalartos arenarius at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toEncephalartos arenarius at Wikispecies
