Jump to content

Cycas pruinosa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cycas pruinosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Cycadophyta
Class: Cycadopsida
Order: Cycadales
Family: Cycadaceae
Genus: Cycas
Species:
C. pruinosa
Binomial name
Cycas pruinosa
Maconochie

Cycas pruinosa is a small to medium species of cycad, a palm-like seed plant. It is a widespread but sporadic species in the eastern and southern Kimberley region of Western Australia, occurring also in the Spirit Hills on Bullo River Station in the Northern Territory.

Features

[edit]

This species is distinguished by its narrow, glabrous leaflets with strongly recurved margins; its long, slender microsporangiate cones; and its long megasporophylls with long, sterile apices. It has a stout, erect trunk, around 2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall and 30 cm (12 in) in diameter, which is crowned with arching fronds, distinctly curved from the apex and V-shaped in cross-section. Glaucous leaf waxes may be either present or absent, causing plants to be either blue or green in overall appearance. It is suited to tropical regions which have a seasonally dry climate.

History

[edit]

This strikingly distinctive and widespread species was only first recognised in 1978 by Australian botanist John Maconochie. The specific name, pruinosa, means "covered with powder" and aptly describes the blue-white ovules of this plant.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hill, K.D. (2010). "Cycas pruinosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T41993A10598658. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41993A10598658.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.