Description

Very thick broad leaflets; yellow stalked cones (short stalks in the pollen cones)

Plants arborescent; stem 1 m tall, 35 cm diam.

Leaves 170-200 cm long, dark green, semiglossy, slightly keeled to flat in section; rachis green, straight, stiff or gently curved, somewhat lax, not spirally twisted or slightly twisted in some leaves; petiole straight, with 1-6 prickles; leaf-base collar not present; basal leaflets reducing to spines.

Leaflets lanceolate, strongly discolorous, not lobed, insertion angle obtuse (45-80°); margins incurved; upper margin lightly toothed (1-3 teeth); lower margin lightly toothed (1-3 teeth); median leaflets 18-25 cm long, 30-40 mm wide.

Pollen cones 1-2, narrowly ovoid, yellow, 20-25 cm long, 10 cm diam.

Seed cones 1-2, ovoid, yellow, 30-40 cm long, 15-20 cm diam.

Seeds oblong, 25-30 mm long, 20 mm wide, sarcotesta yellow.

Distribution & Habitat

Tanzania

 

Notes:

Described in 1990 by botanists Aldo Moretti, D.W. Stevenson and Paolo Deluca. Honoring Jean Pierre Sclavo of France, well-known student and collector of cycads, who discovered this species.

References & Acknowledgements:

• Images - Jan Andersson
• Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney