Encephalartos ferox female

Description:

Description: ♀ Encephalartos ferox, Zamiaceae Afrikaans: 'n Mapoetalandbroodboom in die Brisbane Botaniese Tuin, Australië. Die manlike en vroulike keëls word op afsonderlike plante gedra en verskil opsigtelik, maar is beide helder gekleurd. Vroulike plante dra 1-5 geronde keëls, elk 25-50 cm hoog en 20-40 cm in deursnit, wat sessiel (stamloos) uit die plant groei. Manlike plante dra 1-6 silindriese keëls per kroon. Hulle is langer (40-50cm), veel smaller (slegs 8-10 cm in deursnit), minder helderkleurig en word op kort 3cm-lange stammetjies gedra. English: A Maputaland cycad, native to Sth. Africa and Mozambique. Location: Mt. Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, Brisbane, Australia. It is very reminiscent of a holly fern, but the most striking thing about this species is the colour of the cones. The male and female cones are borne on separate plants and while both colourful, are quite different from each other otherwise. The female plants bear 1-5 ovoid cones, each 25-50 cm tall and 20-40cm in diameter. The female cones are sessile on the plant (i.e. they have no stem). The male plants however bear 1-6 cylindrical cones per crown. These are longer (40-50cm) and much narrower (only 8-10cm in diameter) and not as bright. The male cones are held on short stems up to 3cm long. Date: 21 May 2011. Source: The Zululand cycad - (female ) Uploaded by berichard. Author: Tatiana Gerus from Brisbane, Australia. Camera location27° 28′ 35.15″ S, 152° 58′ 35.57″ E View all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap-27.476431; 152.976547.