Distribution of Stangeria (Jones 1993).
Stangeria
Natal grass cycad.
Contains one species, Stangeria eriopus (Kunze) Baillon 1892. The genus was described based on a living specimen collected by Max Stanger, Surveyor-General of Natal Province, in 1851. A recent analysis has been provided by Vorster and Vorster (1986). When collected, it was initially thought to be the fern Lomaria coriacea; subsequently it was described by Kunze in 1859 as Lomaria eriopus and reached its present nomenclature in 1892. Also known, ca. 1853-1892, as S. paradoxa T. Moore (Jones 1993).
A small cycad to 2 m tall with a subterreanean, carrot-shaped stem to 20 cm across. Stem may branch dichotomously at right angles to form many growing points. Roots swollen, fleshy, almost tuberous. Mature leaves 0.3-2 m long, pinnate, fern-like, erect or arching, dark green, glabrous; petiole 10-80 cm long, swollen and hairy at the base, smooth and lacking prickles; leaflets 10-40 on each leaf, 7-50 cm × 1.4-6 cm, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, thin-textured to slightly leathery, proximal leaflets stalked, distal ones fused and decurrent on the rachis, margins entire or sometimes revolute, deeply lobed, prominently toothed or wavy, apex acute but readily broken off. Male cones 10-25 cm × 3-4 cm, narrowly cylindrical, solitary on each growing point, covered with short silver hairs when young, yellowish brown when mature; sporophylls about 12 mm across, triangular to rhomboid, lacking prickles; peduncle 5-25 cm long, hairy when young. Female cones 8-35 cm × 6-10 cm, ovoid to ellipsoid, covered with silvery hairs when young, dark green and less hairy at maturity; sporophylls to 6 cm across, slightly convex, overlapping; peduncle 5-25 cm long, hairy. Seeds radiospermic, 3-3.5 cm × 2-2.5 cm, ovoid to obovoid, the sarcotesta purple-red when ripe (Jones 1993).
Southeast coast of South Africa between 27°S and 33°S and within 50 km of the sea, although remote from salt spray. Habitat open and dense evergreen forests, and short grassland. Soils includes sands and heavy black clays. Rainfall 750 to 1000 mm, with a summer maximum. Frosts are rare (Jones 1993).
This species is fully protected under Appendix I of CITES (the Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna And Flora (1973, revised 1993.04.16)).
No data as of 2023.03.03.
A popular ornamental, easily grown indoors in pots (Jones 1993).
I've seen it at Flecker Botanical Gardens in Cairns (Australia), and at the Los Angeles County Arboretum in California. I believe it's reasonably common in botanical gardens.
Morphology varies considerably with habitat. Plants from the frequent-fire open grassland habitats have usually one erect, compact leaf per crown with short, leathery leaflets. Crowns are much-branched. Plants from forested habitats have up to six leaves that have thin-textured, entire leaflets and less frequent cone production. S. eriopus is the only cycad known to not produce heat in the mature cones. The mature cones do produce a fruity odor. Sex change has been reported in captive plants (Jones 1993).
Captive plants may cone in four years (Jones 1993), suggesting the species is relatively precocious (as cycads go).
Vorster, P. and E. Vorster. 1986. Encephalartos 2: 8-17.
Africa Cycads provides good photos, distribution maps and descriptions for all African cycads, including Stangeria eriopus.
Last Modified 2023-03-03
Back to top