| Encephalartos transvenosus | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Cycadophyta |
| Class: | Cycadopsida |
| Order: | Cycadales |
| Family: | Zamiaceae |
| Genus: | Encephalartos |
| Species: | E. transvenosus |
| Binomial name | |
| Encephalartos transvenosus Stapf & Burtt-Davy |
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Encephalartos transvenosus (Modjadji Cycad or Modjadji's Cycad) is a palm-like cycad in the family Zamiaceae. It is found in Limpopo Province in South Africa. It is also sometimes called "Modjadji's palm" and is named after the Rain Queen. The species name transvenosus refers to the fine network of veins between the main veins. These can be seen when the leaf is held up to the light.[1]
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The tree grows up to twelve metres tall with a thick trunk deeply scored in a netted pattern. This is crowned by nearly straight, shiny, spiny pinnate leaves up to two and a half metres long. The leaflets are broad, the middle ones up to about three centimetres in width, slightly curved and with small marginal teeth. Two to four large cones are borne in the heart of the leaves. The female cone may reach eighty centimetres long, weigh thirty four kilograms and have brilliant orange-red seeds.[2]
Modjadji's cycad grows in the mountains of northern Transvaal and particularly on two hills near Modjadji near Duivelskloof. It is a tall majestic tree and has been protected by generations of rain-queens. It forms pure forests on these hills, the only cycad forests in Southern Africa.[2]