Cycas thouarsii

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Figure 1. C. thouarsii in habitat, Madagascar.

Distribution & Habitat:

Open coastal forests of Madagascar, the Comores, the Seychelles, and the east coast of Africa.

Description:

A large cycad to 10 m tall, with a 450 mm diameter trunk, which produces offsets along its length. Numerous (to 40) long (to 3 m) shiny green leaves. Very similar in appearance to Cycas rumphii.

General:

Thought to be the most ancient of the Cycas (and hence the Cycads), at an estimated 140 million years of age.

Culture:

Does best in a moist well drained spot, with light shade. A large and fast grower.

Figure 2. C. thouarsii in habitat, Madagascar.

Figure 3. C. thouarsii leaf detail.

Figure 4. C. thouarsii female plant, with several immature seeds.

Contributed by:

Bruno Leroy (Figure 1)
Rolf Kyburz (Figure 2&3)
Gary Beaumont (Figure 4)

External Links:

World List, IUCN, JSTOR, Trebrown

Google, GoogleImages, Flickr,