Editing Cycas ophiolitica II (section)

===Cultivation Observations===
All of the seedlings that I have raised from seed have not shown any indication of the blue hue that is so prominent in the Marlborough plants. My seed has been taken from local plants in the Yeppoon area that are of a dark green origin. However, one very interesting observation is that the seedlings of ''C. megacarpa'' to the south, quite often possess the same blue hue as their northern counterparts. The seeds of this species are much larger in contrast to the seed produced by ''C. ophiolitica'', yet they quite often too are a powdery grey blue before ripening. Seed from plants in the Rockhampton and Yeppoon area are always green before changing to an orange colour closer to ripening. The seed right across the range of ''C. ophiolitica'' and ''C. megacarpa'' change to an orange colour at maturity. Plants that are grown from seed can grow much faster than in the wild and respond well to frequent applications of fertilizers and ample watering. I prefer to plant my seedling in pots that are as deep as possible so as to allow for the growth of a strong healthy root system. From time to time, I also feed my seedlings a mixture of fish emulsion and seaweed extract which I believe acts like a tonic to produce vibrant healthy plants.

I have noticed that many plants can vary a lot within one locality. The range of ''C. ophiolitica'', ''C. media'' and ''C. megacarpa'' are known to overlap in some areas and this factor may explain the many characteristics that vary so much within individual plants and colonies in Central Queensland. A common observation is in that the leaves of one species which are sometimes strongly keeled in one plant may be only moderately keeled in another, both with in close proximity of one and other. Some individuals from ranges that surround Yeppoon occasionally possess leaves that have matured into a grey-green colour, especially in their older flushes. Once again plants that are in close proximity of each other may remain the usual dark green colour.

Ripe seed that has dropped may be collected from the base of female plants and will usually strike quite easy. Sometimes if the adult plants are growing in a loose rocky area you may be lucky enough to obtain seed that has already struck and be easily removed with out much damage to its root system. The bright orange sclerotesta of this cycad attracts small rodents and mammals which in turn may carry the seed away from the parent plant providing a great form of seed dispersal. Often the seed themselves are covered with insect scale but this does not appear to cause any long term damage to the seed apart from discolouring the ripening outer fruit.

Plants in cultivation and in the wild often fall prey to insect activity and the result can be devastating. Some of these insects have the ability to completely devour a new flush of leaves overnight. One culprit is a pale blue native butterfly whose larvae feed entirely on cycads. Ironically this small butterfly is known as "Cycad Blue" around the city of Townsville in North Queensland. Over the years this pest scientifically known ''Theclinesthes onchya'' has had me pulling my own hair out, and has near driven me to despair. An old mosquito net draped over a frame is the best protection but it does look absolutely ridiculous to passers by, and the down side is that you may need many nets to cover several plants. Spraying is the next best option but it has to be done on a daily basis to properly destroy the grubs that constantly keep hatching from tiny pale blue to white coloured eggs.

The next monster is a small bronze coloured Chrysomelid beetle which also attacks the new growth on cycads. This species of beetle also likes to de-nude ''C. thourasii'' and it does so very effectively. Last year one of my adult ''C. thourassi'' tried valiantly to flush four times during the summer and the poor plant was left looking pretty ghastly. Plants growing in a garden situation also are sometimes attacked by scale insect on the seed and under leaflets, but are easily controlled by the use of pest oil. Sometimes here on the coast the southeast winds can often be relentless as well and can damage newly emerging leaves by rubbing the new growth across old growth which produces a burnt effect on the leaflets.
<div class="row" style="text-align:center;">
[[File:Cycas_ophioliticaG03.jpg|frame|Figure 4. ''C. ophiolitica'' "Green". This green variant is found near Yeppoon, central Queensland.]]
</div>