Cycas taitungensis

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Figure 1. New leaves on a C. taitungensis, note how they are twisting around.

Common Names:

Prince Sago,
Emperor sago

Conservation Status:

Vulnerable, mainly due to habitat destruction (logging) and plant collectors.

Distribution & Habitat:

Now restricted to the Taitung Cycad Nature Reserve, Taiwan, where it grows on exposed hillsides in rocky shale.

Description:

A medium sized cycad to about 3.5 m tall, with a trunk to about 350 mm across. Dark green leaves to 1.75 m long, 500 mm wide. Quite similar in appearance to Cycas revoluta, but it is larger with a more open crown and broader, flatter leaves.

General:

This species used to be widely known under the incorrect name C. taiwaniana, until it was properly described in 1994. It is used to make tea in its local area.

Culture:

Moist well drained spot in full sun. Said to be the fastest grower of all the cycads. To get the best growth give the plant full sun, and regular fertilizer. It is also frost tolerant, and able to withstand temperatures down to -10°C (15°F).

Figure 2. C. taitungensis in habitat, Taitung, Taiwan.

Figure 3. A very attractive plant with a female cone.

Figure 4. Male cone and cataphylls of C. taitungensis

Figure 5. Microsporophylls of C. taitungensis at pollen release.

Contributed by:

Paul Kennedy (Figure 1)
Mike Gray (Figure 3)
Ken Hill (Figure 2 - from Palms & Cycads, July-Sept, 1994)
Lou Randall (Figures 4&5)

External Links:

World List, IUCN, JSTOR, Trebrown

Google, GoogleImages, Flickr,