Ceratozamia aurantiaca
Ceratozamia aurantiaca Pérez-Farr., Gut.Ortega, J.L.Haynes & Vovides
Ceratozamia aurantiaca is a species of cycad in the family Zamiaceae, native to the Southwest region of Mexico. It is characterized by its rupicolous, arborescent, unbranched stem and distinctive orange emerging leaves that transition to glossy green at maturity. The species is distinguished from similar Ceratozamia species by features such as longer petioles, wider spacing between leaflets, and specific morphological traits of its leaves and strobili.
Description
Ceratozamia aurantiaca is a rupicolous, arborescent cycad with an unbranched stem that grows 20–250 cm tall and 10–15 cm in diameter. The plant has persistent cataphylls and pinnate leaves, 7–30 per apex, with a crown that is open and ascending, becoming arching at maturity. Leaves are 117–257 cm long, 53–77 cm wide, and initially reddish light brown, quickly turning bright orange before maturing to glossy green. Petioles are 31–85 cm long and armed with thick prickles on larger plants. Rachises are 70–187 cm long with diminishing prickles toward the apex. Leaflets are 12–38 pairs, coriaceous, and linear to subfalcate, with median leaflets 21–42.5 cm long and 3.3–4.8 cm wide. Microstrobili are solitary and cylindrical. The species is most similar to C. whitelockiana but differs in leaflet shape, prickles, and strobilus morphology.
Distribution
Mexico Southwest
Synonyms
Ceratozamia martinezii
