Cycad

This and Cycas debaoeusis, with their 3-pinnate leaves, are the most distinct of all extant cycads. Cycas multipinnata is also one of the most endangered cycads in China, mainly as a result of over collection by commercial dealers and habitat damage as forests are opened up for farmland. If conservation measures are not taken immediately, the species will most likely become extinct in the wild within the next ten years.

Trunk almost subterranean, to 40 × 20 cm above ground; bark brown-gray, scaly. Leaves 1(or 2), 3-pinnate, trullate in outline, flat, 3-7 m × 60-100 cm; petiole subterete, 1.5-2.5 m × 3-6 cm; spines 30-50 along each side, 3-6 cm apart, compressed conical, 3-5 mm; primary leaflets in 12-22 pairs, longitudinally inserted at 60-90° to primary rachis, lanceolate, slightly "V"-shaped in cross section at 100-130° to rachis; middle leaflets largest, 35-60 × 15-20 cm; basal and apical leaflets gradually shorter, 20-40 × 10-15 cm; secondary leaflets flabellate or obtriangular, dichotomously (2 or)3-5-forked, 20-22 × 5-15 cm, with petiolule 0.5-5 cm; segments (ultimate leaflets) obovate-linear, regular, 7-12 × 1-2 cm, papery, midvein slightly elevated on both surfaces, base decurrent, glabrous, margin entire or somewhat wavy, apex shortly acuminate to caudate. Pollen cones fusiform-cylindric, 15-23 × 4-6 cm; microsporophylls 1.2-2 cm × 8-10 mm, tomentose, apex acute. Megasporophylls 8-12 cm, brown tomentose, glabrescent; stalk ca. 4 cm; sterile blade triangular-ovate, 4-7 × 3-6.5 cm, deeply divided into 25-35 subulate lobes 1-3.5 cm; ovules 3-5 on each side of stalk. Seeds 6-10, greenish to yellowish, obovoid, slightly compressed, 2.5-3.2 × 2.3-2.8 cm; sclerotesta finely verrucose, apex mucronate. Pollination Apr-May, seed maturity Oct-Nov.

SE Yunnan (Gejiu Shi, Hekou Yaozu Zizhixian, Mengzi Xian, Pingbian Miaozu Zizhixian)

* Red soil over granite or limestone in somewhat shaded monsoon forests along valleys; 200-1000 m.

Cycas longipetiolula D. Y. Wang; Epicycas multipinnata (C. J. Chen & S. Y. Yang) de Laubenfels.

Cycas multipinnata (or Epicycas multipinnata),common name Royal Sago, is a species of cycad or Sago Palm (faily Cycadaceae) in southwestern China and northern Vietnam. It is noteworthy for three things: First it is one of the tuberous species which some taxonomists segregate as the genus Epicycas. Secondly, it has the longest leaf stalks (petioles) of any Gymnosperm; up to 11.5 feet (3.5 meters). Cultivated plants have had petioles as long as thirteen feet (four meters). The total length of the bipinnate frond can be up to 23 feet seven meters) The ultimate pinnules are "Y" shaped. Thirdly, this very conspicuous plant escaped notice until 1994. Among Gymnosperms, these fronds are exceeded in mass only by Encephalartos laurentianus.