''Encephalartos transvenosus'' is a palm-like

cycad Cycads are seed plants that typically have a stout and woody (ligneous) trunk (botany), trunk with a crown (botany), crown of large, hard, stiff, evergreen and (usually) pinnate leaves. The species are dioecious, that is, individual plants o ...

in the family

Zamiaceae The Zamiaceae are a family of cycads that are superficially palm or fern-like. They are divided into two subfamilies with eight genera and about 150 species in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Australia and North and South America. ...

, with a localized distribution in

Limpopo Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane, while the provincial legislature is ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. Its common names, Modjadji's cycad or Modjadji's palm, allude to the female dynasty of the

Lobedu people The Lobedu or Balobedu ''(''also known as the BaLozwi or Bathobolo'')'' are a southern African ethnic group. Their area is called Bolobedu. They are initially known as Bakwebo (wild pigs). The name "balobedu" means "the mineral miners" lobela ...

, the

Rain Queen Queen Modjadji, or the Rain Queen, is the hereditary queen of Balobedu, a people of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The Rain Queen is believed to have special powers, including the ability to control the clouds and rainfall. Modjadji Ro ...

s, whose hereditary name is Modjadji. The queen resides near a valley (of late a

nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...

) which is densely forested with these cycads, which they protected and hold sacred. The species name ''transvenosus'' refers to the fine network of veins between the main veins. These can be seen when the leaf is held up to the light.

Description

The tree grows up to twelve metres tall with a thick trunk deeply scored in a netted pattern. This is crowned by nearly straight, shiny, spiny pinnate leaves up to two and a half metres long. The leaflets are broad, the middle ones up to about three centimetres in width, slightly curved and with small marginal teeth. Two to four large cones are borne in the heart of the leaves. The female cone may reach eighty centimetres long, weigh thirty four kilograms and have brilliant orange-red seeds.

Range

Modjadji's cycad grows in the mountains of Limpopo Province particularly on two hills east near

Modjadjiskloof Modjadjiskloof, formerly Duiwelskloof, is a small town situated at the foot of the escarpment in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The village is 18 km north of Tzaneen. Surveyed in 1919 and proclaimed in 1920, it was administered by a v ...

(formerly Duiwelskloof). It is a tall majestic tree and has been protected by generations of rainqueens. It forms pure forests on these hills, the only cycad forests in Southern Africa.

References

External links

* *
Cycad Pages: ''Encephalartos transvenosus''
* Transvenosus Trees of South Africa Limpopo Least concern plants Flora of the Northern Provinces {{tree-stub