|
The Cycas taitungensis belongs to Cycadaceae (the Cycad family). It is a small evergreen tree that is a species endemic to Taiwan. It has only been confirmed in two populations in Taitung County in the southeast of Taiwan. It grows on sunny, rocky, steep slopes and well-drained gravelly ground, and can reach a height of around 5 m. The trunk can be up to 45 cm in diameter. The leaves are pinnate, dark green and glossy, and are 1.1 to 1.6 m long. There are 110 to 170 leaflets on each side of the rachis, which are lanceolate to linear in shape and have sharp tips. It is dioecious, with flowers appearing at the tips of the stems in summer. The fruit ripens to a bright red color in fall. It is classified as EN (Endangered) on the IUCN Red List. In Taiwanese Chinese, it is called "台東蘇鐵".
|