Stangeria
Stangeria | |
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S. eriopus in coastal lowland forest , South Africa
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Gymnospermae |
Division: | Cycadophyta |
Class: | Cycadopsida |
Order: | Cycadales |
Family: | Stangeriaceae
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Subfamily: | Stangerioideae |
Genus: | Stangeria T.Moore
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Species: | S. eriopus
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Binomial name | |
Stangeria eriopus | |
Range of Stangeria eriopus | |
Synonyms | |
Stangeria katzeri Regel |
Stangeria eriopus is a
Description
Stangeria eriopus is a very long-lived, perennial, evergreen cycad. The stalked, feathered, fern-like
Tubers
Stems are completely subterranean and the root tuber is shaped like a carrot, which reaches a diameter of 10 to 25 centimeters. The tip bifurcates into several shoot tips. These form at the beginning wooly scales, but fall off early. As in other cycads, S. eriopus forms coralloid roots. These are specialized, plagiotropic (sideways-growing) roots housing colonies of cyanobacteria Bacillus radicola and Azotobacter sp. that fix nitrogen, much like the roots of legumes.
The tuber is rich in carbohydrates and contains an exceptionally high concentration of sodium sulfate, which explains the breaking-irritant effect.[4] The most common biflavones in the leaves are amentoflavone and bilobetin.[5]
Cones
S. eriopus reaches maturity at 5–7 years of age, and has stalked
Male cone
The male cone is cylindrical and tapers towards the tip. At maturity reaches a diameter between 30 – 40 mm and becomes between 10 – 25 cm long. The cone then turns yellowish brown at maturity. The scales or microsporophyll, are arranged cylindrically around the pin axis. Their shape is triangular to rhomboid. Each microsporophyll forms about 150 pollen sacs, which are attached in groups of 3-6 at the bottom. At maturity, the pin axis extends and the scales are lifted apart and release the pollen.
Female cone
The female cones are ellipsoidal to conical with a rounded tip. The cones are about 18 inches long and reach a diameter of about 8 centimeters. At maturity, the cone turn to dark green. Like the male microsporophylls, the female megasporophylls are cylindrically arranged around the axis. Their tips form but six vertical lines. The ovules are formed at the base of megasporophyll and reach a size of 35 × 25 millimeters. When the cone is ripe, the megasporophylls separate. The micropyle exudes a drop of liquid that pulls the pollen capillary to the embryo sack when it dries. After ripening the seeds, the female cones dissolve and the seeds fall to the ground. They consist of a hard, dark red part, which is surrounded by a fleshy, purple seed coat, which later turns brown. They are about 2 inches long and about 14 millimeters wide.
Pollen
The cones are insect-pollinated, giving off a faint odor to attract beetle pollinators. At maturity they fall apart to reveal the seeds, which are 2–3 cm in length. The pollen carry on the outside a glycocalyx, which consists of densely packed cylindrical units measuring 20 to 150 nanometers. They are perpendicular to the plasma membrane. Below is the sporopollenin. The germinal openings (apertures) are more proximal than distal. At the distal end of each pollen grain, there is an unusual pit (pseudosulcus) that resembles a "failed" distal aperture.
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habit in grassland
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female cones
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male cone (right)
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seeds of S. eriopus
Distribution and habitat
It is native to a narrow coastal strip, some 800 kilometres in extent, in the
This species of cycad is adaptable and is found in many habitats, from grassland to closed forest, whether in full sunshine or shade. The species has a low salt tolerance however. It is sometimes found in meadows near the coastal dunes, where the plants are protected from salt water. Sandy, slightly acidic soil is preferred, but at the northern limit of its range, Stangeria eriopus also grows on clay or very stony soils.
Conservation
IUCN Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable, mainly due to habitat loss and over-exploiting for traditional medicine. It is listed under
Another possible threat to the species is the lobster louse (Diaspididae) Aulacaspis yasumatsui. The insect originally hails from Thailand where it infests their cycads. The pest has now been introduced to Florida, Hawaii, Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands, where it causes significant damage to cycads. If the species is introduced to South Africa, it could drastically reduce or even destroy the Stangeria population in a short amount of time.
Stangeria eriopus is also a carrier of the fungus Guignardia mangiferae, which causes great damage to citrus fruit, but remains on the plant without symptoms. The larvae of the butterfly Callioratis millari feed on the leaves of the species.
The Stangeria eriopus can be asexually reproduced from root parts. It is the first species of cycad that has been propagated using tissue culture, which simplifies the conservation of the species.[6]
Discovery
When Gustav Kunze discovered the first plants, he incorrectly designated them as ferns probably due to the primitive nerves, under the name Lomaria coriacea. In 1839 he described it again as a separate species of fern as Lomaria eriopus. It was not until 1851 that William Stanger discovered that they were cycads when he observed the cones. He sent samples to England, where they were described by Thomas Moore described the Art 1853 as Stangeria paradoxa and thus also established the genus. However, since the epithet "eriopus" of Kunze was validly described, Henri Ernest Baillon with his description in 1892 the correct name as Stangeria eriopus.[7]
Etymology
The genus was named in honor of William Stanger (1811-1854), who sent the first cones to England. He was an English physician and naturalist who worked in South Africa.
The binomial name comes from the
Cytology
The species has 2n = 16 chromosomes. The cladogram shows twelve metacentric, two submetacentric and two acrocentric chromosomes.[8]
Systematics and Taxonomy
The closest relative to Stangeria eriopus was thought to be the genus
However, molecular phylogenetic studies show that Stangeria is more closely related to the genus Ceratozamia or to Zamia and Microcycas than to Bowenia, implying that the Stangeriaceae are not a monophyletic group.[8][9][10]
Uses
In South African traditional medicine, the thickened subterranean tuber stem serves both for the production of various magical tinctures and as an emetic. The dried tuber is also mixed with feed to combat internal parasites in cattle.[11]
For these purposes, the plants are collected and sold, this goes so far that the stock is now endangered. For one gram of tuber, 5 cents were paid on the market in Mthala in 2005.[12]
References
- . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- JSTOR 2442720.
- PMID 7967657.
- ^ .
- PMID 18943020.
- ^ Histoire des Plantes Monographie des Conifères, Gnétacées, Cycadacées, Alismacées, Triuridacées, Typhacées, Najadacées et Centrolépidacées. Paris, 1892, S. 68 (PDF)
- ^ )
- PMID 13678689.
- PMID 23997230.
- ISSN 0038-2353. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2006-12-02.
- ISSN 0038-2353.
- Williams, V.L.; Raimondo, D.; Crouch, N.R.; Cunningham, A.B.; Scott-Shaw, C.R.; Lötter, M.; Ngwenya, M. (2010). "Stangeria eriopus". . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ISBN 0-88192-522-5.
- Tuckley, R. (1999). "A new significance for Stangeria?". The Cycad Newsletter. 22 (4): 11–14.
- Osborne R, Grove A, Oh P, Mabry TJ, Ng JC, Seawright AA (July 1994). "The magical and medicinal usage of Stangeria eriopus in South Africa". J Ethnopharmacol. 43 (2): 67–72. PMID 7967657.
- Vorster, P.; Vorster, E. (March 1985). "Stangeria eriopus". Encephalartos. 2: 1–11.
- Douwes, E.; Gillmer, M.; Mattson, M.; Dalzell, C. (2004). "Vegetative propagation of Stangeria eriopus from leaf material". Encephalartos. 80: 28–30.
External links
- Media related to Stangeria eriopus at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Stangeria eriopus at Wikispecies
- The Cycad Pages: Stangeria eriopus
- Cycad Society of South Africa: Stangeria eriopus