Encephalartos munchii


Encephalartos munchii is a species of cycad in Africa.

Description

It is an arborescent cycad, with an erect stem, up to 1 m tall and 30 cm in diameter, sometimes with secondary stems originating from basal suckers.
The leaves, pinnate, arranged in a crown at the apex of the stem, are 1–1.3 m long, supported by a 15-20 cm long petiole, and composed of numerous pairs of lanceolate, coriaceous green leaves, long 15–20 cm, with spiny margin and pungent apex.
It is a dioecious species, with male specimens presenting from 1 to 6 sub-cylindrical, erect, 40–65 cm long and 7–9 cm broad, jade green, and female specimens with cylindrical-ovoid cones, generally solitary, 30–50 cm long and 16–20 cm broad, from glaucous green to jade green.
The seeds are roughly ovoid, 2.5-3.5 cm long, covered with a scarlet red sarcotesta.