- Growing on a hillside near Cairns, Queensland
- Crown, from above
- Immature female cone
- Seed
In Cairns Botanic Gardens | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Gymnospermae |
Division: | Cycadophyta |
Class: | Cycadopsida |
Order: | Cycadales |
Family: | Zamiaceae |
Genus: | Lepidozamia |
Species: | L. hopei |
Binomial name | |
Lepidozamia hopei | |
Lepidozamia hopei, commonly known as Hope's cycad or zamia palm, is a species of cycad in the family Zamiaceae, endemic to a small part of the Australian state of Queensland. It grows as an understorey tree in rainforest, and is reputed to be the tallest known species of cycad.
Hope's cycad is a tree reaching up to 20 m (66 ft) high and 50 cm (20 in) trunk diameter. It normally has a single trunk and crown, although forked trunks occur on occasions. The fronds may reach up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long with as many as 200 leaflets each. The leaflets are dark green, fairly stiff, and up to 3 cm (1.2 in) wide and 40 cm (16 in) long. The cones are quite large – male cones measure up to 40 cm (16 in) tall and 14 cm (5.5 in) diameter and female cones are up to 60 cm (24 in) tall and 30 cm (12 in) diameter. The seeds when mature measure about 5 cm (2.0 in) long by 4 cm (1.6 in) wide and are sheathed in a bright red sarcotesta. [4] [5] [6]
It is reputed to be the tallest known species of cycad and it towers over other understorey vegetation, but rarely reaches the forest canopy. [6] [7] : 4
This plant was first described in 1865, as Catakidozamia hopei, by Scottish-Australian botanist Walter Hill who published the description in The Gardeners' chronicle and agricultural gazette. [8] It was later transferred to the genus Lepidozamia by German botanist Eduard August von Regel, who published the new name in 1876. [9]
Lepidozamia hopei is found in a small part of northeast Queensland, from the area around the Bloomfield River in the north, to the lowlands just south of Tully. It inhabits rainforest and neighbouring forests at altitudes from near sea level to about 600 m (2,000 ft). [4] [5] [10]
This species has been assessed to be of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and as 'Special Least Concern' (SL) by the Queensland Government under its Nature Conservation Act. [1] [11] The status SL is unique to Queensland, and lies between 'Least Concern' and 'Near Threatened'. [12]
The seeds are eaten by cassowaries and the sarcotesta that covers them are eaten by native rodents. [5]
Cycas pruinosa is a small to medium species of cycad, a palm-like seed plant. It is a widespread but sporadic species in the eastern and southern Kimberley region of Western Australia, occurring also in the Spirit Hills on Bullo River Station in the Northern Territory.
Agathis robusta, commonly known as Dundathu pine, kauri pine, Queensland kauri (pine), Australian kauri (pine) or smooth-barked kauri, is a coniferous tree in the family Araucariaceae. Although some common names use the word 'pine' it is not a true pine, having leaves rather than needles. It has a disjunct distribution, occurring in Papua New Guinea and two locations in Queensland, Australia.
Lepidozamia is a genus of two species of cycad, both endemic to Australia. They are native to rainforest climates in eastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales. They have a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 18.
Cycas angulata is a species of cycad in the genus Cycas, native to Australia in northeast Northern Territory and northwest Queensland.
Cycas arenicola is a species of cycad in the genus Cycas, native to Australia, in the far north of Northern Territory in the basin of the upper East Alligator River in Arnhem Land. It grows in Eucalyptus woodlands on highly siliceous soils. They thrive in open situations.
Cycas badensis is a species of cycad in the genus Cycas, native to Australia, in the extreme north of Queensland, where it is endemic on Badu Island in the Torres Strait Islands.
Cycas basaltica is a species of cycad in the genus Cycas, native to Australia, in the far north of Western Australia in the Kimberley region.
Cycas beddomei is a species of cycad in the genus Cycas, native to India, where it is confined to a small area of Andhra Pradesh state in the Tirumala Hills in scrubland and brush covered hills.
Cycas cairnsiana is a species of cycad in the genus Cycas, native to northern Australia in northern Queensland on the Newcastle Range.
Cycas chamaoensis is named after the only known habitat of this species, on and near Khao Chamao mountain in Khao Chamao District, Thailand. Stems are arborescent, either erect or decumbent. Leaves numerous, exceeding 60 per crown, 1.2-2.5 meters in length, ending in terminal spine. Petiole 30–60 cm, glabrous and partially spiny. Leaflets in 85-155 pairs, and lanceolate, glabrous and angled forward at 60-70 degrees.
Archontophoenix alexandrae, commonly known as Alexandra palm, king palm, northern Bangalow palm, or feather palm, is a palm endemic to Queensland, Australia. It was named in honour of Princess Alexandra of Denmark, but is often erroneously referred to by the misnomer Alexander palm.
Agathis atropurpurea, commonly known as the blue kauri, and occasionally as the black kauri or purple kauri, is a species of conifer in the very ancient plant family Araucariaceae. The family was distributed almost worldwide during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, but is now mostly confined to the Southern Hemisphere. This species is endemic to a small part of northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Normanbya is a monotypic genus of palms containing the single species Normanbya normanbyi, which is known by the common name black palm It is endemic to Queensland, Australia and is threatened by habitat destruction.
Cycas micronesica is a species of cycad found on the island of Yap in Micronesia, the Marianaislands of Guam and Rota, and The Republic of Palau. It is commonly known as federico nut or fadang in Chamorro. The species, previously lumped with Cycas rumphii and Cycas circinalis, was described as a unique species in 1994 by Ken Hill. Paleoecological studies have determined that Cycas micronesica has been present on the island of Guam for about 9,000 years. It has been implicated as a factor in Lytico-Bodig disease, a condition similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), due to the presence of the neurotoxin BMAA found in its seeds. Seeds were a traditional food source on Guam until the 1960s. The neurotoxin is present due to a symbiosis with cyanobacteria.
Lepidozamia peroffskyana is a palm-like cycad in the Cardboard Palm Family Zamiaceae. It is endemic to eastern Australia, primarily near the coast of New South Wales. The species is named after Count Peroffsky (1794-1857), benefactor of the St. Petersburg Botanical Garden.
Macrozamia miquelii, is a species of cycad in the plant family Zamiaceae. It is endemic to Queensland and New South Wales in Eastern Australia. Located within sclerophyll forests dominated by eucalyptus trees, the cycad grows on nutrient-poor soils. It is recognised within the Zamiaceae family for its, medium height at 1 m, intermediate size of male and female cones and lighter green leaves compared to other cycads within the plant family of Zamiaceae. The seeds have an orange red sarcotesta which attracts fauna consumption, allowing a mutualistic seed dispersal for the cycad. These seeds are also edible for human consumption if prepared correctly to remove the toxins.
Cycas media is a palm-like cone-bearing plant widespread in seasonally dry tropical sclerophyll woodlands close to the east coast of Queensland, with scattered occurrences also in northern Northern Territory and Western Australia, Australia. The dark green leathery, thick leaves are pinnately divided and grow in annual flushes from a massive apical bud. It is tolerant of bushfire and often re-foliates immediately following a dry season fire, before the beginning of the next rainy season. All plant parts are considered highly toxic. However, the seeds were eaten by Aboriginal Australians after careful and extensive preparation to remove the toxins.
Cycas rumphii, commonly known as queen sago or the queen sago palm, is a dioecious gymnosperm, a species of cycad in the genus Cycas native to Indonesia, New Guinea and Christmas Island. Although palm-like in appearance, it is not a palm.
Encephalartos inopinus is a species of cycad that is native to Limpopo Province, South Africa.
Piper lanatum, commonly known in Australia as peppervine, is a species of plants in the pepper family Piperaceae found from India through Southeast Asia to Queensland, Australia.