Description

A robust, tall-growing species with glossy dark green leaves. Mature leaves are straight and flat, with broad leaflets tending to droop away from the rachis. Leaflets overlap, and carry 3-6 spines on both margins, and basal leaflets gradually reduce to prickles, although leaving some clear petiole. It is thought to be closest to E. paucidentatus, which has narrower, clearly spaced and mostly entire leaflets

Plants arborescent; stem 12 m tall, 40-45 cm diam.

Leaves 150-250 cm long, dark green, highly glossy, flat (not keeled) in section (opposing leaflets inserted at 180° on rachis); rachis yellowish, straight, stiff, not spirally twisted; petiole straight, with no prickles; leaf-base collar not present; basal leaflets reducing to spines.

Leaflets lanceolate or ovate, strongly discolorous, overlapping upwards, not lobed, insertion angle horizontal; margins flat; upper margin lightly toothed (1-3 teeth); lower margin lightly toothed (1-3 teeth); median leaflets 16-25 cm long, 25-45 mm wide.

Pollen cones 1-4, ovoid, yellow, 30-40 cm long, 13-15 cm diam.

Seed cones 1-4, ovoid, yellow, 50-80 cm long, 20-30 cm diam.

Seeds oblong, 40-50 mm long, 20-27 mm wide, sarcotesta red

 

Distribution & Habitat

South Africa - northern Transvaal

 

Notes:

Latin trans, across, and venosus, veins. Described in 1926 by English botanists Otto Stapf and Joseph Burtt Davy.

References & Acknowledgements:

• Images - Ken Hill & The Cycad Society
• Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney