Cycas arnhemica facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cycas arnhemica |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cycas
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| Species: |
arnhemica
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Cycas arnhemica is a special type of plant called a cycad. It's like a very old palm tree or fern. This plant grows naturally in Australia, specifically in the northwest part of the Northern Territory. It gets its name from the area where it lives, called Arnhem Land.
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What is Cycas arnhemica?
Cycas arnhemica is a unique plant that belongs to the Cycas family. It is known for its strong, upright stem. This stem can grow quite tall, usually reaching about 1.5 to 2.5 meters (5 to 8 feet) high.
How Does It Look?
This cycad has many long, flat leaves. Each leaf is typically 70 to 160 centimeters (2 to 5 feet) long. They are made up of many smaller parts called leaflets. A single leaf can have between 160 and 260 leaflets!
When new leaves first appear, they are covered in a soft, white, woolly fuzz. As they grow older, they turn a bright to dark green color. The top side of the leaves becomes a bit shiny. Sometimes, the white fuzz stays on the underside of the leaves.
Different Types of Cycas arnhemica
There are three slightly different types, or subspecies, of Cycas arnhemica:
- Cycas arnhemica subsp. arnhemica: This type has wider leaflets, about 5 to 6.5 millimeters wide.
- Cycas arnhemica subsp. muninga: This type has thinner leaflets, about 3.5 to 5.5 millimeters wide. Its seeds are also larger, more than 32 millimeters wide.
- Cycas arnhemica subsp. natja: This type also has thin leaflets, 3.5 to 5.5 millimeters wide. However, its seeds are smaller, less than 32 millimeters wide.
Cones and Seeds
Like other cycads, Cycas arnhemica produces cones, which are how it reproduces.
- Female cones: These are open and can be 15 to 24 centimeters (6 to 9.5 inches) long. They have gray, leaf-like structures called sporophylls. These sporophylls are covered in orange hairs. Each sporophyll can hold two to six seeds. The seeds themselves are about 28 to 32 millimeters long and 25 to 29 millimeters wide. When they are ripe, they have a bright orange outer layer.
- Male cones: These cones are usually found alone and are shaped like an egg. They are larger, measuring 18 to 36 centimeters (7 to 14 inches) long and 6.5 to 12 centimeters (2.5 to 5 inches) across. They are also covered in orange hairs.
Where Does It Live?
Cycas arnhemica grows in specific areas of Arnhem Land in Australia. You can often find it in Eucalyptus woodlands and open grasslands called savanna. It prefers these sunny, open environments.
This plant is mainly found around the Goyder River and the lower parts of the Blyth River. Because of this, its natural home is somewhat limited to these areas.
Discovery and Conservation
Scientists first described Cycas arnhemica in 1994. It is closely related to another cycad called Cycas maconochiei.
Sometimes, natural grass fires happen in its habitat. While these fires can help some other plants, they can harm Cycas arnhemica. Many of its seeds and young plants can be destroyed by these fires, especially as fires become more common.
However, even with these challenges, scientists believe the plant's population is stable. This is because it lives in a tough environment that isn't easy for people to reach. Also, there are still many healthy Cycas arnhemica plants growing in the wild.
