Encephalartos latifrons

Encephalartos latifrons is a species of cycad that is native to Eastern Cape province in South Africa at elevations of 200 and 600 meters.[2]

Encephalartos latifrons

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Cycadophyta
Class: Cycadopsida
Order: Cycadales
Family: Zamiaceae
Genus: Encephalartos
Species:
E. latifrons
Binomial name
Encephalartos latifrons
Lehm.

Description

It is an arborescent cycad, with an erect or decombent stem, up to 4.5 m tall and 30-45 cm in diameter. The leaves, pinnate, of a bright green color, arranged in a crown at the apex of the trunk, are 1–1,5 m long, supported by a 10-20 cm long petiole, curved downwards; they are composed of numerous pairs of large leathery leaflets, up to 15 cm long, arranged on the rachis with an acute angle, partially overlapping, with the lower margin presenting from 3 to 4 triangular lobes. It is a dioecious species, with male specimens that have from 1 to 3 sub-cylindrical, sessile cones, about 30–50 cm long and 8–17 cm broad, olive-green in color, and female specimens with 1-3 cylindrical cones, erect, about 50–60 cm long and 23–25 cm wide, olive green in color, with macrosporofilli about 8 cm long. The seeds are coarsely ovoid, 2.5-3.0 cm long, covered with a dark red flesh.[3]

Conservation

In August 2014 thirteen Encephalartos latifrons cycads were stolen from Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town, South Africa. The estimated value of all thirteen was at least R200,000 (US18,675). The plants were planted over 100 years ago as part of a research and reproduction program of this particular species of Encephalartos that no longer naturally reproduces in the wild. Encephalartos is highly valued as a garden or ornamental plant in many parts of the world and it is thought the plants were stolen to be sold on the black market.[4]

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References
  1. "Encephalartos latifrons in ICUN Redlist". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  2. "Encephalartos latifrons in Tropicos".
  3. "Encephalartos latifrons". PlantNET Home Page - National Herbarium of New South Wales. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  4. Yeld, John (5 August 2014). "Endangered cycads stolen from Kirstenbosch". Cape Argus. Retrieved 21 August 2014.


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