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Cycas chamaoensis
Also called Chamao Hill Cycad
Cycas chamaoensis, the Chamao Hill Cycad, is a slow-growing palm-like cycad from one mountain in eastern Thailand, grown mainly as a specimen plant in full sun. The key to growing it is strong sun and very free-draining soil, since it naturally grows on bare granite rock.
Cycas chamaoensis is named after the only known habitat of this species, on and near Khao Chamao mountain in Khao Chamao District, Thailand. Stems are arborescent, either erect or decumbent. Leaves numerous, exceeding 60 per crown, 1.2-2.5 meters in length, ending in terminal spine. Petiole 30–60 cm, glabrous and partially spiny. Leaflets in 85-155 pairs, and lanceolate, glabrous and angled forward at 60-70 degrees.
Female cones closed type, sporophylls 13–18 cm long with yellow to gray tomentose. 2-4 ovules per sporophyll. Lamina is long, almost circular, with numerous lateral spines. Sarcotesta 3 mm thick, and yellow in color, with smooth sclerotesta. Male cones solitary and erect, spindle shaped to narrow ovoid, 50–60 cm long, 12–13 cm in diameter, with orange color. Prominent apical spine present.
This cycad is native to eastern central Thailand, on Mount Khao Chamao northeast of Klaeng and southeast of Bangkok. This cycad grows from bare granite outcroppings, in full sun. It is closely related to Cycas pectinata. The conservation status is insecure, as local inhabitants treasure the plant for gardening purposes and the plant's range is restricted to only 1 mountain.
Cycas aculeata · Cycas aenigma · Cycas angulata · Cycas annaikalensis · Cycad · Cycas arenicola · Zamia Palm · Cycas arnhemica · Cycas badensis · Cycad · Cycas basaltica · Beddome’s Cycas
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Cycas chamaoensis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.
