Editing Cycas couttsiana (section)

===Notes:===
(The following notes were written just after the
discovery of ''C. couttsiana'', and before its official description.)
With the blue foliage colouration having been mentioned by
J.R. Maconochie speaking of Northern Territory ''Cycas''
species, it can well be imagined the excitement that
followed reports of a blue-leaved ''Cycas'' from
Queensland other than the elusive east coast
''[[Cycas cairnsiana]]''.

It was noticed on a property directly north of Hughenden,
central Queensland, near the Chudleigh Station. Mrs. Pat
Coutts' property, 'Glen Idle' was used for the temporary
name for the new ''Cycas''. Preliminary investigation by
collectors and taxonomists indicates that this is a new
species. There are profound similarities between it and
another 'blue' to be found about 150km directly north on Mt.
Surprise and first brought to notice by Mrs. Irene Champion
of Mackay, Queensland. This raises the question; Is this a
northern colony of the other?. The terrain question would
seem to deny this as Mt. Surprise is gemstone and granite
country, whilst much of 'Glen Idle' is on deep red basaltic
soil.

On examining two mature specimens in cultivation, it was
found that at least two of the 'blue' ''Cycas'' have the
tendency to lose the blue sheen if replanted in different
soils and colour change is apparently seasonal at least in a
coastal environment, as new fronds resume the glaucous sheen.
However it is obvious that the seasonal change does not occur
if plants are in their natural habitat.

'Glen Idle Blue' occurs inland of the Great Dividing Range
and as it only grows on private property, very little
information has been available to Australian investigators.
However, I have reports from a reliable source that one giant
specimen growing on the deep soil area has a measured height
of 11.60m. The caudex was a single trunk having the visual
appearance of the coastal
''[[Cycas media]]'' and the base at
ground level had many age cracks between the old leaf bases.
One can only guess the real antiquity of this specimen. The
report goes further to state that several other plants
measured in the vicinity of 6.0m tall. This must be taken to
be exceptional as the average height seems to be about 3.0m.
Sporophylls, ovules, new fronds and rachis shape all have
profound similarities to the species found on Mt. Surprise
gemfields. The deep soil area of 'Glen Idle' is an ironbark
country and reports mention an outstanding eucalypt with a
very rough yellow bark being everywhere, There are two
possible species, but the most likely is ''Eucalyptus similis''
(Inland yellow jacket), a dominant species on the deep soil
country, having a rough yellow bark to the trunk. The other
is ''Eucalyptus peltata'' (Rusty jacket) which does grow in the
area but generally a little farther north. The latter also
has a rough yellow bark.

After close examination of two mature fronds, it is
convincing to assume the affinity of the east coastal 'Blues'
and other ''Cycas'' to the west. The as yet undescribed
plants of Chudleigh Station, Mr. Surprise and the species
directly north of them,
''Cycas cairnsiana'', show many
similarities despite the obvious height differences with the
'Glen Idle'. This could possibly be explained by
environmental and geological changes in the habitat of each
form.