Cycas zambalensis throws a tantrum
Behold an eleven-year-old seed-grown specimen that has lived all its life in a clay pot. And recently, while cleaning the little garden and ridding it of weeds, I noticed that the cycad's Pilea microphylla -choked pot is broken. I did some mental mathematics, and concluded that the last time it was repotted -in this pot- was more or less four years ago. Obviously, the plant is screaming for more root space and what better way to get the message across than by breaking its own pot. Note that the plant is flushing. When fully unfurled, the new leaves are glaucous blue. Cycas zambalensis . The tank beside it houses a turtle. Cycas zambalensis is one of eleven known species of this ancient genus of gymnosperms in the Philippines. It was originally described from San Antonio in Zambales, and a second population occurs at Botolan, also in Zambales. I have been fortunate to visit the only two known sites of this very narrowly endemic species. The plants grow on ultram...