Encephalartos horridus, the Eastern Cape blue cycad,[2] is a small, low-growing cycad up to 0.9 m (3.0 ft) high and 0.9 m (3.0 ft) wide.[3] It is a native of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, and found in arid shrublands, most commonly on ridges and slopes with shallow soils. The species is particularly known for its distinctly blue-gray leaves, although the degree of coloration can vary significantly.[4] The species namehorridus is Latin for 'bristly', after the plant's stiff, spiny leaflets.[4]
Mature plants have big stems of between 0.5–1 m (20–39 in) in length and 20–30 cm (8–12 in) in diameter[5] with the majority of the stem growing below ground.[3] Leaves are up to 1 m (39 in) long and often sharply recurved towards the tip, looking stiff and spiny.[4] Younger leaves are a silvery-blue colour but turn green with age.[5]
Cones are usually brownish- or blackish-red and single with a dense layer of fine hair. Both male and female cones are produced. The female cone is egg-shaped and up to 40 cm (15.5 in) long and 20 cm (8 in) in diameter while the male cone is largely cylindrical narrowing towards the ends up to 40 cm (16 in) long and 12 cm (4.5 in) in diameter. Seeds are roughly triangular with three flattened surfaces.[5]
In the wild there is evidence of distinct variation within the species, including a possible 'dwarf' form found around Port Elizabeth.[5]
Distributionedit
Naturally occurring Eastern Cape blue cycads can only be found around Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage districts of Eastern Cape, South Africa, which has a warm climate year round, average annual rainfall in the range of 250 to 600 mm (9.8 to 23.6 in) and summer temperatures up to 40 °C (104 °F).[5] It prefers full sunlight and persists in a range of habitats including Karoo scrub, sourveld, deep fertile soil and open rocky ridges.[5]
Eastern Cape blue cycads are now available as a result of commercial distribution in nurseries and gardens throughout the world.
Ecologyedit
Cycads have few natural enemies; however, in the wild, they can be subject to predation from animals such as porcupines, baboons and certain insects. Although the Eastern Cape blue cycad can reproduce by suckering, more commonly reproduction requires insect pollination. Once seed cones have been pollinated seeds are spread by animals that eat the fleshy cones.[2]
Conservation statusedit
This cycad is listed as an endangered species by the 2003 IUCN Red List,[1] a change from its vulnerable listing in the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants.[4] Historically it was over-collected in the wild but widespread availability in commercial nurseries has reduced some of this pressure.[2]
Cultivation and propagationedit
Like all cycads, the Eastern Cape blue cycad is a slow grower. It responds well to deep, fertile soil enriched with compost.[5] It is best suited to temperate and subtropical regions, however it can tolerate light to moderate frosts. It requires full sun, excellent drainage, not too much water and slightly acidic soil to prosper.[2] It is common for the species to form new leaves and cones regularly.[5] Plants are available from nurseries in many areas, however they are also easy to propagate from seeds.[5] They can also be propagated from suckers with some patience and experience.[2]
Referencesedit
^ abDonaldson, J.S. (2010). "Encephalartos horridus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T41905A10587904. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41905A10587904.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
^ abcdeLe Roux, Lou- Nita (April 2003), Encephalartos horridus (Jacq.) Lehm, South African National Biodiversity Institute, retrieved 2008-03-28
^ abRodd, Tony; Bryant, Geoff (2007), Flora's plantfinder : the right plants for every garden, Ultimo, NSW, Australia: ABC Books, p. 905, ISBN978-0-7333-2094-1
^ abcdefghi, The Cycad Society of South Africa, archived from the original on 2008-05-11, retrieved 2008-03-28
External linksedit
Media related to Encephalartos horridus at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Encephalartos horridus at Wikispecies
October 27, 2023
encephalartos, horridus, eastern, cape, blue, cycad, small, growing, cycad, high, wide, native, eastern, cape, province, south, africa, found, arid, shrublands, most, commonly, ridges, slopes, with, shallow, soils, species, particularly, known, distinctly, blu. Encephalartos horridus the Eastern Cape blue cycad 2 is a small low growing cycad up to 0 9 m 3 0 ft high and 0 9 m 3 0 ft wide 3 It is a native of Eastern Cape Province South Africa and found in arid shrublands most commonly on ridges and slopes with shallow soils The species is particularly known for its distinctly blue gray leaves although the degree of coloration can vary significantly 4 The species name horridus is Latin for bristly after the plant s stiff spiny leaflets 4 Eastern Cape blue cycadConservation statusEndangered IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade GymnospermsDivision CycadophytaClass CycadopsidaOrder CycadalesFamily ZamiaceaeGenus EncephalartosSpecies E horridusBinomial nameEncephalartos horridus Jacq Lehm Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Ecology 4 Conservation status 5 Cultivation and propagation 6 References 7 External linksDescription editMature plants have big stems of between 0 5 1 m 20 39 in in length and 20 30 cm 8 12 in in diameter 5 with the majority of the stem growing below ground 3 Leaves are up to 1 m 39 in long and often sharply recurved towards the tip looking stiff and spiny 4 Younger leaves are a silvery blue colour but turn green with age 5 Cones are usually brownish or blackish red and single with a dense layer of fine hair Both male and female cones are produced The female cone is egg shaped and up to 40 cm 15 5 in long and 20 cm 8 in in diameter while the male cone is largely cylindrical narrowing towards the ends up to 40 cm 16 in long and 12 cm 4 5 in in diameter Seeds are roughly triangular with three flattened surfaces 5 In the wild there is evidence of distinct variation within the species including a possible dwarf form found around Port Elizabeth 5 Distribution editNaturally occurring Eastern Cape blue cycads can only be found around Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage districts of Eastern Cape South Africa which has a warm climate year round average annual rainfall in the range of 250 to 600 mm 9 8 to 23 6 in and summer temperatures up to 40 C 104 F 5 It prefers full sunlight and persists in a range of habitats including Karoo scrub sourveld deep fertile soil and open rocky ridges 5 Eastern Cape blue cycads are now available as a result of commercial distribution in nurseries and gardens throughout the world Ecology editCycads have few natural enemies however in the wild they can be subject to predation from animals such as porcupines baboons and certain insects Although the Eastern Cape blue cycad can reproduce by suckering more commonly reproduction requires insect pollination Once seed cones have been pollinated seeds are spread by animals that eat the fleshy cones 2 Conservation status editThis cycad is listed as an endangered species by the 2003 IUCN Red List 1 a change from its vulnerable listing in the 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants 4 Historically it was over collected in the wild but widespread availability in commercial nurseries has reduced some of this pressure 2 Cultivation and propagation editLike all cycads the Eastern Cape blue cycad is a slow grower It responds well to deep fertile soil enriched with compost 5 It is best suited to temperate and subtropical regions however it can tolerate light to moderate frosts It requires full sun excellent drainage not too much water and slightly acidic soil to prosper 2 It is common for the species to form new leaves and cones regularly 5 Plants are available from nurseries in many areas however they are also easy to propagate from seeds 5 They can also be propagated from suckers with some patience and experience 2 References edit a b Donaldson J S 2010 Encephalartos horridus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010 e T41905A10587904 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2010 3 RLTS T41905A10587904 en Retrieved 18 November 2021 a b c d e Le Roux Lou Nita April 2003 Encephalartos horridus Jacq Lehm South African National Biodiversity Institute retrieved 2008 03 28 a b Rodd Tony Bryant Geoff 2007 Flora s plantfinder the right plants for every garden Ultimo NSW Australia ABC Books p 905 ISBN 978 0 7333 2094 1 a b c d Hill Ken Encephalartos horridus Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney retrieved 2008 03 28 a b c d e f g h i Encephalartos horridus Jacq Lehmann The Cycad Society of South Africa archived from the original on 2008 05 11 retrieved 2008 03 28External links edit nbsp Media related to Encephalartos horridus at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Data related to Encephalartos horridus at Wikispecies Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Encephalartos horridus amp oldid 1176801936, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
