Encephalartos ituriensis

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Distribution & Habitat:

Ituri Forest in northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Description:

Solitary stems, erect (leaning or decumbent older specimens), often suckering from the base. Up to 6 meters tall and 50 cm in diameter. Leaves bright green, 2 to 3 meters long, initially erect but gradually spreading. Petiole 2 cm long. Leaflets to 25 cm long and 3 cm wide; margin with three to nine short spines, a pungent apex and basal leaflets reduced to spines. One to two female cones (20 cm by 12 cm), erect, at first apple green then turning tan to yellow. Two to four male cones (26 cm by 7 cm), semi-pendulent and tan to yellow at maturity.

Cultivation:

Vigorous grower in subtropical to warm temperate climate. Responds to mulching, watering and light fertilizing. Beacuse of eventual size, requires large area.

Contributed by:

Fred Zone 10A

External Links:

World List, IUCN, JSTOR, Trebrown

References: Loran A. Whitelock and Duke Benadom, The Cycads, Vol. 2 Africa and the Americas, Superb Succulents, 2015 and David L. Jones, Cycads of the World, 2nd Edition, Smithsonian Institution Press, 2002