Cycas elephantipes

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Figure 1. C. elephantipes

Distribution & Habitat:

Around the tops of steep sandstone massifs and cliffs in Thailand. It is seasonally dry and deciduous forest, with a mainly grass understory.

Description:

A medium sized cycad to about 3m tall, with grey/green, semi glossy leaves to about 1.5m long. It has a large swoolen base (hence the name; like an elephants foot), and deeply fissured bark. Very closely related to Cycas pachypoda.

General:

Becoming rare in habitat, due mainly to pressure from plant collectors.

Culture:

Sunny, well drained situation, with a dry winter.

Figure 2. Showing the large, swollen base.

Figure 3. C. elephantipes with a male cone.

Figure 4. Close-up of the cone.

Contributed by:

Ruud Meeldijk,
Golden Lotus

External Links:

World List, IUCN, JSTOR, Trebrown

Google, GoogleImages, Flickr,