| 0019005 |
byfield fern |
Bowenia serrulata |
"As its common name suggests, this cycad has far more in common, appearance wise, with ferns than with cycads. Rather than the typical circular layout of leaves, these leaves stand up straight, up to 1.5 metres (5 feet) high, and are branched, having between 6 and 10 branches on a mature leaf. The individual leaflets, arranged bipinnately around the stem, are usually between 60 to 100 mm (2.5 - 4 ins) long, 20 - 30 mm ( 0.75 - 1.25 ins) wide and are a dark, shiny green, with serrated edges. They have the standard pineapple shaped cone, producing green/purple, oval seeds, 30 mm (2.25 in) long. " Citation from the Palm & Cycad Societies of Australia at http://www.pacsoa.org.au/cycads/Bowenia/serrulata.html "Because of their attractiveness, the leaves of this plant were regularly harvested for use in floral arrangements. Collectors used to be able to get a licence for the exclusive rights to harvest in a certain area. The plants are now protected [added-CITES Appendix II], and they are far too slow growing to be produced commercially for this use, so they are now rarely seen in floral arrangements. occasionally one sees plastic copies of the leaves, however." Citation from the Palm & Cycad Societies of Australia at http://www.pacsoa.org.au/cycads/Bowenia/serrulata.html |
