Encephalartos.| | oxxx. cycaDAcEm (Prain), 353 
lanceolate, very distinctly falcate, 7-9 in. long, 1} in. wide, very 
oblique at the base and wide-cuneate or rounded on the upper, narrow- 
cuneate on the lower edge, apex acutely acuminate, pungent, margin 
with 1-4 diverging teeth throughout the lower edge, and 2-4 strong 
diverging teeth, mainly in the basal half, on the upper edge, occasion- 
ally a tooth on the lower edge high up and the tip then 2-spinescent ; 
in young plants casually 4—5-spinescent. Male cone peduncled, 
sometimes 5 or more in one crown, dull yellowish-green finely dotted 
with deep red, becoming dark brown after pollen is shed, ovate to 
fusiform, 12-16 in. long, 3-4 in. wide; peduncles 6-7 in. long, to- 
mentose ; scales spreading, wide obovate-deltoid, fertile portion 
? in. long, as much wide, apex rhomboid, 2 in. across, the lateral 
angles acute, the upper very obtuse and sometimes nearly obsolete, 
ridged and distinctly 3-faceted, faintly umbonate. Female cone 
peduncled, sometimes up to 10 in one crown, dull yellowish-green, 
becoming at length dark brown, subcylindric or narrow-conical, 
up to 2 ft. long, 6-8 in. wide ; peduncles 43-54 in. long ; apex of scales 
wide-rhomboid, 2} in. across, 1} in. deep, lateral angles explanate, 
upper and lower very obtuse, umbonate near the lower angle. Seeds 
ellipsoid or ovoid, rather distinctly angled and 3-7-faceted by com- 
pression, 14-14 in. long; outer coat dull vermilion. 
Mozamb. Distr. Nyasaland: south-western Mlanji, between the Tuchila 
and the Ruo Rivers, 2500 ft., Mahon! lower slopes of Mount Mlanji, 2200-3000 
ft., Davy! Zomba, cultivated, McClounie, 197! Davy, 417! 
This species is not put to any economic use, and has no definite vernacular 
name (Davy). Originally discovered in 1899 by Mahon, Z. gratus has been in culti- 
vation since 1903 when it was introduced by McClounie ; a second introduction 
was effected by Davy in 1914. It is most common in rocky ravines and on rocky 
river-banks, frequently in rock-crevices with no apparent soil. Usually subject 
to intense insolation, it nevertheless survives occasional brief submersion in 
heavy floods. Specimens are sometimes met with in savannah forest and less 
often in dense forest with rich soil. In savannah the plants are usually de- 
foliated by the annual grass-fires, but survive. Female plants may remain 
leafless for twelve to eighteen months after ripening seeds, their stems continu- 
ing short and globose, about 1 ft. across, hypogzal or only rising 6 inches above 
the surface. Male plants of approximately the same age may develop stems 
4 ft. high, over 2 ft. thick at the base (Davy). Inshape of leaf-pinnules Z. gratus 
most resembles, among the tropical species of the genus, H. laurentianus, De 
Wild., from Uganda and the Belgian Congo. Inshape of cones it most resembles 
E. Hildebrandiis, A. Br. & Bouché, from Usaramo, Usambara and 9h baron 
The male cone-scales of H. gratus, however, differ greatly from those of the two 
species mentioned, and most resemble those of #. Bartert, Carruth., from Upper 
Guinea and of E. Poggez, Aschers., from the Belgian Congo, two species with 
widely different foliage. As regards the shape, size, and marginal toothing of 
the leaf pinnules, 2. gratus agrees closely with EL. Woodii, Sand., from Zululand, 
& species whose cones have not yet been described. When seen growing side 
by side, however, the Zulu and the Nyasa plants are readily distinguishable ; 
the leaves of H. Woodii are shining above, those of E. gratus are dark dull green. 
7. E. laurentianus, De Wild. Etudes Fl. Bas- et Moyen-Congo, 
i. 10, t. 25. Stem well-developed, cylindric, sometimes irregularly 
shaped (Gentil), erect or sometimes prostrate (Johnston), casually 
FL. TROP. AFR. VI. SECT. II. 2A 
