Cycad Focus Focus Focus EncephalartosEncephalartos turneriturneri Focus

feet long and spread straight Approximately 50 miles northwest of Encephalartos turneri – out. Leaves of sun-grown plants Nampula lies Jaiane, in the Rapale dis- Turner’s Cycad (front cover) are imbricate and trict of Nampula Province. In this area an olive green color, while are found two unique forms of E. turn- Article and Photos by Maurice Levin those of shade-grown plants are dark exhibiting either red or yellow sarcotes- For years, the distinct leaves and green and very shiny (Fig. 2); both fig- tas, known as the “Red Seed” and “Yel- relative inaccessibility of Encephalartos ures are of plants from the Nairoku turneri have made it a true collector’s habitat. Leaflets of E. turneri range item among cycad aficionados. Located from entire to somewhat spiny, depend- in hard-to-access habitats in previously ing on ecotype, which will be discussed war-torn Mozambique, Turner’s Cycad below. One of the most distinctive only became well-known in gardens in features of E. turneri may be found in the last ten years, since political stabili- the boat-shaped form of the leaflets, ty returned to Mozambique. However, which also have an attractive revolute due to efforts to propagate and distrib- margin in mature plants. ute seed and seedlings in the late 1990’s Mature plants of this species tend and early 2000’s, this medium-sized to produce 1-3 cones each year. Cones cycad, very adaptable to a range of of both sexes can reach 12” long. Diam- climates, may become more available eter of male cones is 3”; that of while and popular in gardens. female cones is 5”. Color of cones ranges green to yellow to reddish pink, Fig. 1. A 15-gallon specimen of the History of the Species depending on habitat and maturity. Nairoku form of Encephalartos turneri E. turneri was described in 1985 by Seedcoat color ranges from green to Lavranos and Goode. They named the yellow to red and are among the largest plant for the Ian S. Turner of Zimbabwe, I’ve seen in the genus, up to 1½” long, who discovered the species, and whose and nearly ¾” wide at the base. The collected specimens and field notes seeds tend to be somewhat pear-shaped, provided the basis for description of the similar to those of E. gratus, but much species. Turner had discovered the more robust. Please see the accompa- plant in his journeys among the granite- nying photographs of seedlings for ref- covered hillsides approximately 15 miles erence. southeast of Nampula, Mozambique. Turner’s Cycad’s various habitats and ecotypes have notable morphological Morphology of Forms and Ecotypes differences. Most plants in U.S. nurser- There are several habitats for Turn- ies and gardens today are from the er’s Cycad around the Nampula region Nairoku habitat. Examples of this plant of Mozambique. The type locality, south- are found on the front cover (mature east of the city of Nampula, has been coning plant), a 15-gal. juvenile plant in likely decimated by collectors, with few Fig. 1, and a seedling in Fig. 2. Plants specimens remaining. This is the from the Nairoku locality are the tallest Fig. 2. A seedling of the Nairoku ecotype. In habitat, E. turneri and most robust in this species. Nairoku form of Encephalartos turneri grows in habitats ranging from rocky 70 miles from Nampula, to the west barren hillsides to “along a watercourse and a bit north, lies the town of Ribauè, cascading down from the highest peaks” where the “giant” Ribauè Form of En- (Douglas Goode, Cycads of Africa Vol- cephalartos turneri is located. It is ume I). Not surprisingly, specimens are quite numerous in habitat, and is diffi- plentiful only in the most remote locali- cult to reach, requiring several hours of ties. climbing up stone-faced mountains full The trunk of Encephalartos turneri of thorny Euphorbias and other native can reach ten feet in height. Hillside plants. The Ribauè form, which has plants have a tendency to recline over green and yellow male cones, has spini- time, becoming procumbent, particular- er leaflets than the other forms of the ly where growing on an incline. In culti- species. Note the prickly leaflets on the vation, these plants tend to produce seedling leaflets of this form pictured in straight erect stems. Leaves grow five Fig. 3. Seedlings of the “Ribauè Form” of Fig. 3. Encephalartos turneri with spiny leaflets (inset). The Cycad Newsletter 30(2) June 2007 Page 11