Biology:Cycas taitungensis
| Cycas taitungensis | |
|---|---|
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| Cycas taitungensis in the Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg, Germany | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Cycadophyta |
| Class: | Cycadopsida |
| Order: | Cycadales |
| Family: | Cycadaceae |
| Genus: | Cycas |
| Species: | C. taitungensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Cycas taitungensis Shen, Hill, Tsou & Chen
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Cycas taitungensis is a species of genus Cycas endemic to Taitung County, south-eastern Taiwan. C. taitungensis, an evergreen tree, can grow up to about 5 m (16 ft) tall.[2] The species was not described until 1994, but its specimen was once applied as the type of species Cycas taiwaniana, which is not really distributed in Taiwan according to the further research.[3]
C. taitungensis is one of the ancient "living fossils" left over after many major changes on the earth. It has been around for more than 140 million years. The precious wild C. taitungensis has been decimated rapidly due to frequent deforestation and pirate harvesting. At present, it is very rare in the wild.
C. taitungensis was listed by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants in category "vulnerable" in 1997. However, small range, decline of mature specimens, and attack by invasive Aulacaspis scale (Diaspididae) warranted classification as "endangered" in 2010.[1]
Distribution
C. taitungensis is found in:
- Lu-Yeh Valley near Yanping Township (延平鄉)
- to the west of the Taitung Coastal Range in Donghe Township (東河鄉)
In Taitung Hungyeh Village Cycas Nature Reserve,[4] it is threatened by Aulacaspis yasumatsui, the cycad aulacaspis scale.
Gallery
Female inflorescence.
Male inflorescence.
Flowers in full bloom.
Flowers in full bloom.
Leaf marks on trunk.
New leaves.
Young leaves vs. old leaves.
Beautiful shape is one of the characteristics of Cycas taitungensis.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Haynes, J. (2010). "Cycas taitungensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T42067A10642224. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T42067A10642224.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42067/10642224.
- ↑ Jiarui Chen; Dennis W. Stevenson. "Cycas taitungensis". Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=210000347. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ↑ Shen, C. F.; K.D. Hill; C. H. Tsou; C. J. Chen (1994). "Cycas taitungensis C.F. Shen, K.D. Hill, C.H. Tsou & C.J. Chen, sp. nov. (Cycadaceae), a new name for the widely known cycad species endemic in Taiwan". Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica 35: 133–140. http://ejournal.sinica.edu.tw/bbas/content/1994/2/bot352-10.pdf.
- ↑ "Natural Landscape Conservation - Natural Landscapes and Natural Monuments - Natural Landscapes - Nature Reserves - Taitung Hongye Village Taitung Cycas Nature Reserve". http://conservation.forest.gov.tw/EN/0000499.
External links
- Cycas taitungensis - The Cycad Pages
Wikidata ☰ Q703933 entry
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