Editing Cycas basaltica

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This grows in sections of the vast Kimberley Ranges,
generally in open forest country near or between the ranges,
terrain being typically basalt and rocky. The largest
colonies known are in open Eucalypt country, around the bases
of small hills in the Drysdale River National Park.

The combination of silvery new pinnae contrasting with the
rusty gold-brown of the rachis is very eye catching. The
caudices are stout mostly to about 2.0 m in height and
swollen at the base. This is similar to reports from the east
coast of Queensland of ''Cycas'' sp. 'Marlborough Blue'.

''Cycas basaltica'' obtains its name from its geological
basalt surroundings The caudices measure from 30.0-60.0 cm in
diameter. Leaf fronds are 0.5-1.5 m in length and covered in
short white hairs which give it a grey appearance. The male
cone is narrow, elongate and ovular, and the female circle of
spikes is covered with thick fine rusty hairs There are four
ovules to each megasporophyll, the end blade of the spikes
being narrow and entire. Mature pinnae are narrow and rigid,
with some recurving along the margins of each. All pinnae
being very hoary beneath. Seed apparently mature in August.
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===Contributed by: ===
L. P. Butt (from '''Palms & Cycads''' No. 27, Apr-Jun 1990)


===External Links:===
[https://www.cycadlist.org/taxon.php?Taxon_ID=66 World List], 
[https://www.iucnredlist.org/details/full/41988/0 IUCN],
[https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=Cycas+basaltica JSTOR],
[https://www.trebrown.com/plant_info.php?species=Cycas+basaltica Trebrown]
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[https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Cycas+basaltica%22&amp;num=10&amp;sa=Google+Search Google],
[https://images.google.com/images?q=%22Cycas+basaltica%22&amp;hl=en&amp;btnG=Google+Search GoogleImages],
[https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Cycas+basaltica Flickr],
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[[Category:Cycas|basaltica]]
[[Category:Cycad|Cycas_basaltica]]