Lepidozamia peroffskyana - male cone 081230-9098

Description:

Botanic Gardens, Sydney. Lepidozamia has male cones among the largest of any cycad, around 80 cm long. But its most distinctive character is the way this spiral split develops as the cone axis elongates, pulling the pollen-bearing scales (microsporophylls) apart. As in all cycads, the pollen is released from numerous small sacs (sporangia) borne on the undersides of the scales.