Lipidozamia peroffskyana - Queensland Cycad

I've never see the female cones before - they are a brilliant colour.

Good picture and i love the look of those cones, their texture and colour look very tactile.

Fantastic ....

This is gorgeous..........

Bernieh:

Thanks! Yes, many female cycads have beautiful colored cones.

Louise1:

Yes, you just have to get past the spiny leaves. : )

Mushybanna, Milky:

Thanks for the comments! : > )

Oh how beautiful! such interesting plants... ancient yet still here for us to marvel at...great photo, D1.

Lori:

Thanks! Yes, they are beautiful, interesting, and ancient plants! I feel so fortunate living here...because the San Diego Zoo has the second largest collection of cycads in North America. : > )

Always wondered if the cycads change sex if a female is needed. Planted all male zamias (little corn cob cones) and next year had a female (hand grenade) show up. Do you know?

Orgratis:

Never heard of that before...interesting.

I know papaya plants can change sexes.

There is a school of thought that severe environmental change could conceivably change the sex of cycads - apparently this has been reported to have happened.

Wow! Sounds very interesting! I guess maybe that's
why cycads have endured the test of time. If a plant species could change sexes under severe environmental conditions it would ensure their survival.

Don't know the full details on this Andy ... I remember reading a report about it a few years back when I was researching my cycads.

Bernieh:

I'll have to do some research on this information. It sounds very interesting. Some genera of cycads may
be more prone to sex change in adverse environmental conditions.

Yes I'm sure it was particular genera - encephalartos? - that was the topic of that report. It was a rare specimen - that's about all I can remember.

Bernieh:

Thanks for the information! I'll have to read up on the genus: Encephalartos.

Wow the cones are large are nt they

Sixpence:

Yes, the cones can be quite large, more than 2ft/61cm on some species of cycads.

My goodness three more feet and that would be my height lol

LOL

:o))