Encephalartos munchii

Encephalartos munchii is a perennial species of cycad in Africa. In English, the species goes by the common name Munch's cycad.^[2]

Encephalartos munchii
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Gymnospermae
Division:	Cycadophyta
Class:	Cycadopsida
Order:	Cycadales
Family:	Zamiaceae
Genus:	Encephalartos
Species:	E. munchii
Binomial name
Encephalartos munchii R.A.Dyer & Verdoorn

Description

This cycad is tree-like, dioecious, growing up to 1 meter tall and 30 centimeters wide, often with additional stems sprouting from its base.^[2] Its pinnate leaves, located in a cluster at the top of the stem, are 1–1.3 meters long, supported by a 15-20 centimeter petiole, and made up of many pairs of lance-shaped, leathery green leaves, each about 15–20 centimeters long, with a spiny edge and a sharp tip. This species has separate male and female plants. Male plants have 1 to 6 upright, slightly cylindrical cones, 40–65 centimeters long and 7–9 centimeters wide, in a jade green color. Female plants have solitary cylindrical to oval cones, 30–50 centimeters long and 16–20 centimeters wide, ranging in color from glaucous green to jade green. The seeds are roughly oval, 2.5-3.5 centimeters long, and covered with a bright red sarcotesta.^[3]