Description

Yellow cones, long-stalked pollen cones, cylindrical seed cones.

Plants arborescent; stem 10 m tall, 60 cm diam.

Leaves 120-180 cm long, light or bright green or blue green, semiglossy, flat (not keeled) in section (opposing leaflets inserted at 180° on rachis); rachis green, straight, stiff, not spirally twisted; petiole straight, with more than 12 prickles; leaf-base collar not present; basal leaflets reducing to spines.

Leaflets lanceolate, weakly discolorous, not lobed, insertion angle obtuse (45-80°); margins recurved; upper margin lightly toothed (1-3 teeth); lower margin lightly toothed (1-3 teeth); median leaflets 16-22 cm long, 16-28 mm wide.

Pollen cones 3-6, narrowly ovoid, green or yellow, 35-50 cm long, 10-14 cm diam.

Seed cones 3-6, ovoid, green or yellow, 40-70 cm long, 25-30 cm diam.

Seeds oblong, 30-37 mm long, 20-23 mm wide, sarcotesta red.

Slow growing as seedlings, but speed up after about 5 years.

Distribution & Habitat

Evergreen forest of the Mathew Ranges in north-central Kenya.

 

Notes:

Common Name: Kenyan giant cycad. Latin tegula, tile, referring to the overlapping microsporophylls, resembling roof tiles. Described in 1957 by English botanist -- Melville.

References & Acknowledgements:

• Images - Rolf Kyburz
• Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney