Encephalartos tegulaneus
Kenyan giant cycad
Family Zamiaceae
IUCN: Least concern Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)
About
Encephalartos tegulaneus, the Kenyan giant cycad, is a tall cycad endemic to Kenya, found at 1,200–2,300 m. It was discovered in 1954 by Joy Adamson.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Not recorded. We have no source on whether this plant is safe for cats, dogs or other pets — that is not the same as safe. Keep it out of reach until you have checked.
- People
- Not recorded.
- Mature size
- Up to 10 m tall; leaves 1.2–1.8 m long.
Field notes
Morphology
A straight trunk up to 10 m tall. Leaves 1.2–1.8 m long carry leaflets 16–22 cm long that become spiny toward the base. Male plants bear 3–6 bright yellow cones 40–50 cm long; females 1–4 golden-yellow cones up to 70 cm long.
Distribution & habitat
Eastern Province near Embu and the Matthews Range, Kenya, at 1,200–2,300 m.
History & etymology
The name refers to pollen-cone scales that overlap like roof tiles. Subspecies powysii is critically endangered from over-collecting and a tiny range.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- Kenya
- IUCN status
- Least concern
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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