Encephalartos transvenosus

The tree grows up to twelve metres tall with a thick trunk deeply scored in a netted pattern. This is crowned by nearly straight, shiny, spiny pinnate leaves up to two and a half metres long. The leaflets are broad, the middle ones up to about three centimetres in width, slightly curved and with small marginal teeth. Two to four large cones are borne in the heart of the leaves. The female cone may reach eighty centimetres long, weigh thirty four kilograms and have brilliant orange-red seeds.

Encephalartos transvenosus (Modjadji Cycad or Modjadji's Cycad) is a palm-like cycad in the family Zamiaceae, growing to about 12 m tall. It is found in Limpopo Province in South Africa. It is also sometimes called "Modjadji's palm" and is named after the Rain Queen. The leaves are 1.5-2.5 m long, pinnate, with numerous leaflets, each leaflet 16-25 cm long and 3-4 cm broad, with a spine tip and 2-3 small marginal teeth. More

Encephalartos transvenosus was threatened by fire. Fire is control today but it still occurs continuously. Sometimes plants do recover after fire but retain blackened trunks to indicate that they were burnt (2). More

Encephalartos transvenosus, new flush of leaves. More