Encephalartos gratus var. manikensis (Gorongowe cycad)

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Encephalartos gratus var. manikensis

Gorongowe cycad, Manica cycad

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Cycadophyta	All cycads—primitive palm-like plants
Class	Cycadopsida	Cycads
Order	Cycadales	Living cycads (most are extinct)
Family	Zamiaceae	Cycas that are superficially palm- or fernlike
Genus	Encephalartos	Bread palms, bread tree, or Kaffir bread because they produce a breadlike starchy food
Species	gratus
var.	manikensis

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This cycad originates in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and is not found in the wild in North America.

Identification: These robust cycads have stout trunks up to 5′ (1.5 m) high. Leaves are 3-6′ (1-1.9 m) long, composed of about 60 pairs of pinnae (leaflets), with lower pairs becoming smaller. The largest pinnae are 4½-6″ (12-15 cm) long about ¾-⅞″ (2-2.5 cm) wide, tipped with one or two spines. Male cones 10-24″ (25-60 cm) tall occur in groups of 1-4. Female cones are somewhat larger, and woolly. These are an endangered species.

Online References:

in Flora of Zimbabwe

The Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of Threatened Species

Wikimedia Commons

Encephalartos manikensis

Encephalartos gratus var. manikensis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, California

Range: Zones 9a-11:

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