Lepidozamia hopei

In Cairns Botanic Gardens
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Cycadophyta
Class: Cycadopsida
Order: Cycadales
Family: Zamiaceae
Genus: Lepidozamia
Species:
L. hopei
Binomial name
Lepidozamia hopei

Lepidozamia hopei, commonly known as Hope's cycad or zamia palm, is a species of cycad in the family Zamiaceae, endemic to a small part of the Australian state of Queensland. It grows as an understorey tree in rainforest, and is reputed to be the tallest known species of cycad.

Description

Hope's cycad is a tree reaching up to 20 m (66 ft) high and 50 cm (20 in) trunk diameter. It normally has a single trunk and crown, although forked trunks occur on occasions. The fronds may reach up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long with as many as 200 leaflets each. The leaflets are dark green, fairly stiff, and up to 3 cm (1.2 in) wide and 40 cm (16 in) long. The cones are quite large – male cones measure up to 40 cm (16 in) tall and 14 cm (5.5 in) diameter and female cones are up to 60 cm (24 in) tall and 30 cm (12 in) diameter. The seeds when mature measure about 5 cm (2.0 in) long by 4 cm (1.6 in) wide and are sheathed in a bright red sarcotesta.[4][5][6]

It is reputed to be the tallest known species of cycad and it towers over other understorey vegetation, but rarely reaches the forest canopy.[6][7]: 4 

Taxonomy

This plant was first described in 1865, as Catakidozamia hopei, by Scottish-Australian botanist Walter Hill who published the description in The Gardeners' chronicle and agricultural gazette.[8] It was later transferred to the genus Lepidozamia by German botanist Eduard August von Regel, who published the new name in 1876.[9]

Distribution and habitat

Lepidozamia hopei is found in a small part of northeast Queensland, from the area around the Bloomfield River in the north, to the lowlands just south of Tully. It inhabits rainforest and neighbouring forests at altitudes from near sea level to about 600 m (2,000 ft). [4][5][10]

Conservation

This species has been assessed to be of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and as 'Special Least Concern' (SL) by the Queensland Government under its Nature Conservation Act.[1][11] The status SL is unique to Queensland, and lies between 'Least Concern' and 'Near Threatened'.[12]

Ecology

The seeds are eaten by cassowaries and the sarcotesta that covers them are eaten by native rodents.[5]

  • Growing on a hillside near Cairns, Queensland
    Growing on a hillside near Cairns, Queensland
  • Crown, from above
    Crown, from above
  • Immature female cone
    Immature female cone
  • Seed
    Seed

References

  1. ^ a b Hill, K.D. (2010). "Lepidozamia hopei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T41995A10599733. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41995A10599733.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Lepidozamia hopei". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Lepidozamia hopei (W.Hill) Regel". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b Hill, K.D. (2022). "Lepidozamia hopei". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  5. ^ a b c F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Lepidozamia hopei". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  6. ^ a b Gray, Mike. "Lepidozamia hopei". Palm and Cycad Society of Australia. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  7. ^ Greenwood, David R. (2000). "Australia's cycad fossils and the antiquity of the Daintree rainforest". Palms and Cycads. No. 66. Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia Ltd. ISSN 1321-2346. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  8. ^ Hill, W. (1865). "Catakidozamia, Hill". The Gardeners' chronicle and agricultural gazette: 1107. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  9. ^ Regel, E. (1876). "Originalabhandlungen". Gartenflora (in German). 25: 6. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  10. ^ "Search: species: Lepidozamia hopei | Occurrence records". Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Australian Government. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  11. ^ "Species profile—Lepidozamia hopei". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Status Codes and Descriptions". University of Queensland. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
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