taxonID	type	description	language	source
03B15315FFEEFFEEFF266B53FB34F06D.taxon	description	(1960); Dyer (1965 a); Dyer & Verdoorn (1966); Giddy (1980); Osborne (1987); Goode (1989); Norstog & Nicholls (1997); Heibloem (1999); Goode (2001); Grobbelaar (2002); Jones (2002); Whitelock (2002); Cooper & Goode (2004). Iconography citation: — Ogilvie (1939: 656): plate IV; Dyer (1965 a: 500): figures 85 – 87; Lewis (1960: 80): table 1 B; Dyer & Verdoorn (1966: 27): figure 7; Osborne (1987: 14): front cover, figures 2 – 9; Giddy (1980: 111): plate 26.1 – 26.5; Goode (1989: 141): pp. 141 – 143; Phelan et al. (1993: 11): figure 3; Nel (1993: 25): p. 25; Rautenbach (1995: 37): figure 1; Norstog & Nicholls (1997: 130): colour figure 1, 35, 59; Heibloem (1999: 56): pp. 56 – 57; Claasen (1999: 18): front cover, colour figure 7; Henning (2000: 17): colour figure 6; Grobbelaar (2001: 13): colour figure 9; De Haas (2001: 18): colour figure 23; Goode (2001: 294): pp. 294 – 297; Grobbelaar (2002: 180): figures 6.13.1 – 6.13.4; Jones (2002: 264): p. 264; Whitelock (2002: 48): plate 262 – 265; Nel (2003: 25): figure 1, colour figures 26 – 31; Cooper & Goode (2004: 73): plate 26; Surju (2005: 23): pp. 23 – 24; Steenkamp (2008: 38): p. 38; Hurter (2009: 35): figure 7; Retief (2009: 35): figure 8; Du Toit (2010: 40): p. 40; Tang (2011 a: 21): figure 5; Tang (2011 b: 26): figures 2 – 4, 7 – 12; Rousseau & Mann (2012: 21): figures 1 – 7, 9 – 15; Rousseau (2013: 28): figure 3. Stems subterranean, rarely emergent 150 – 1000 [300] mm long. Leaves (1060 –) 1280 – 2323 (– 2680) [1818] mm long; unarmed section of petiole (0 – 15 –) 30 – 65 (75 – 160) [64] mm long with 2 – 4 (– 6) spines present. Median leaflets length × width × spacing: (125 –) 140 – 193 [153] × 33 – 52 (59 – 65) [46] × 32 – 49 (55 – 84) [47] mm. Leaflet pairs (25 –) 30 – 37 (– 45) [34], veins (27 –) 35 – 43 (– 53) [40]. Microstrobili predominantly orange to red very rarely yellow, length 320 – 440 (– 960) [427] mm, circumference 260 – 355 [304] mm; peduncle length (160 –) 200 – 370 (– 440) [236] mm; median microsporophyll height (27 –) 32 – 40 (– 44) [35] mm. Megastrobili predominantly red, very rarely orange to yellow, length (300 –) 440 – 510 (– 575) [418] mm, circumference (490 –) 634 – 705 (– 740) [626] mm; peduncle length (65 –) 85 – 117 (– 140) [91] mm, circumference (141 –) 157 – 219 [177] mm; Median sporophyll height 62 – 87 [78] mm, sporophylls concolourous externally and internally. Seedling leaflet width 10 – 18 [15] mm. Habitat: — Encephalartos ferox subsp. ferox is near-endemic to the Maputaland Centre of Endemism (Van Wyk & Smith 2001). It is found in Miombo Woodlands on Lake Basin and Sul do Save Sands (Fig. 3 A), Brachystegia spiciformis Bentham (1866: 312) (Vegetation type 20, Wild & Barbosa 1968) & Littoral dunes, Mimusops caffra Meyer ex de Candolle (1844: 203) (Vegetation type 14 b, Wild & Barbosa 1968) and CB 1: Maputaland Coastal Belt (Mucina & Rutherford 2006). Rainfall 1000 – 1250 mm per annum, elevation 20 – 100 m (Donaldson 2010).	en	Rousseau, Philip, Vorster, Pieter J., Afonso, Abilio V., Van Wyk, Abraham E. (2015): Taxonomic notes on Encephalartos ferox (Cycadales: Zamiaceae), with the description of a new subspecies from Mozambique. Phytotaxa 204 (2): 99-115, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.204.2.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.204.2.1
03B15315FFEEFFEEFF266B53FB34F06D.taxon	distribution	Distribution: — SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal; MOZAMBIQUE: Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane. In South Africa it is only found in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal, the main distribution is in the province of Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane in Mozambique. It has not been located north of the Save River despite anecdotal claims by Capela (2006). Taxonomic notes: — See Table 1. Phenology: — Strobili found dehiscent / receptive (day / month): 23 / 03, 30 / 04; Inhambane, 29 / 04; Mapinhane, 29 / 04; Pomene, 30 / 4; Paindane, 01 / 05; Zavora, 02 / 05; Chidenguele; seed shedding around September. Fauna: — Porthetes Schoenherr (1838: 1041) sp. nov. 7 (Oberprieler 1995, Downie et al. 2008) is known as probable pollinators, while a novel species of Erotylidae has been found here at all localities visited. The following Geomitridae (Lepidoptera, Staude 2001, Staude & Sihvonen 2014) are also known to feed on the subspecies: Paraptychodes Warren (1894: 379) sp., Diptychis meraca Prout (1928: 19), Zerenopsis moi Staude & Sihvonen (2014: 27), and Z. lepida Walker (1854: 571). Seed sarcotesta is routinely removed (consumed) though the agent (s) responsible are unknown. A seed dispersal agent seems absent as dispersal is very poor with many crowns littered with seed and even germinating seedlings.	en	Rousseau, Philip, Vorster, Pieter J., Afonso, Abilio V., Van Wyk, Abraham E. (2015): Taxonomic notes on Encephalartos ferox (Cycadales: Zamiaceae), with the description of a new subspecies from Mozambique. Phytotaxa 204 (2): 99-115, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.204.2.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.204.2.1
03B15315FFEEFFEEFF266B53FB34F06D.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — Specific epithet from the Latin ferox = fierce, alluding to the large almost lobe-like leaflet teeth which are hard, stiff and sharp. Representative specimens: — MOZAMBIQUE. Tofo: Rousseau & Mann 26 – 28 (PRU), Mapinhane: Rousseau 1183 B, Rousseau 1184 (PRU), Quewene / Belane: Rousseau 1257 – 1260 (PRU), Pomene: Rousseau 1185 – 1187 (PRU), Paindane: Rousseau 1188 – 1189 (PRU), Zavora: Rousseau 1190 – 1191 (PRU), Chidenguele: Rousseau 1192 – 1193 (PRU), ex Xia Xia: Rousseau 1046 (PRU), Xai Xai: Jan de Koning 1. P 1 (LMU), Chihanga: Maneul Fildalgo de Carvalho 1.281 (LMU), Pomene: Jan de Koning & Daniel Zunguze 8971 (LMU), Inharrime: F. de Lemos & A. Balsinhas 160 (LMA), Pomene: Jan de Koning & F. Hiemstra 8971 (LMA), Vila de Joã Belo Praia de Sepuilveda: L. A. Grandvaux Barbosa & F. de Lemos 8328 (LMA), Zavala: IIAM 9 (LMA), Chongoene: Ajuian Maan & A. Baldjuihas 1107 A (LMA), Praia de Sepuilveda: J. G. Fedro 3463 (LMA), Chongoene: Pedro & Pedrogão 1647 (LMA), Quissico: Pedro & Pedrogão 1872 (LMA), Vila de Joã Belo: A. R. Torre 3879 (LMA). SOUTH AFRICA. KwaZulu-Natal: Rousseau 651 (JRAU), Rousseau 715 (JRAU), Rousseau 771 (JRAU), Rousseau 841 (Manie v / d Schijff # 4380, JRAU), Rousseau 844, Rousseau 993 (Manie v / d Schijff # 1452, JRAU), Rousseau 1013 (National Botanical Garden # 3130610, JRAU), Molyneux G s. n. Barcode # 000076187 – 000076188 (K). Strobilus volatile chemistry: — Of the 19 Encephalartos taxa analysed by Suinyuy et al. (2013), E. ferox subsp. ferox was unique with a volatile composition dominated by alkanes (99 %). Hybrids: — No natural hybrids are known as no other species of Encephalartos occur within the distribution range of E. ferox. Artificial hybridisation between E. ferox and other members of the genus — which generally hybridise easily with each other — has been mostly unsuccessful (Vorster, unpublished data). Known artificial hybrids (Vorster, unpublished data) have produced very low yields but include, E. ferox × E. woodii Sander (1908: 257), E. ferox × E. trispinosus Dyer (1965 b: 112), and E. ferox × E. caffer Thunberg (1775: 284) (see: Holzman 2005). Conservation status: — Threats include removal for local and foreign horticulture, high burning frequency of grassland habitats kills seedlings and habitat is destroyed for coastal development and agriculture. Cousins et al. (2011) found ca. 10 % of the Encephalartos material traded at the Warwick traditional medicinal market (Durban) to be cf. E. ferox where whole individuals are removed. IUCN Red List status: — In 1997: Rare (Walter & Gillett 1998), in 2003: Least Concern (IUCN 2003), in 2012: Near Threatened (Donaldson 2010). The suggested Red List categorisation is still at Near Threatened as the increased stability (at least in the southern parts) of Mozambique has seen a noticeable rise in the tourism in E. ferox habitats, which simultaneously destroys habitats and subsequently sources plants from other areas for cultivation.	en	Rousseau, Philip, Vorster, Pieter J., Afonso, Abilio V., Van Wyk, Abraham E. (2015): Taxonomic notes on Encephalartos ferox (Cycadales: Zamiaceae), with the description of a new subspecies from Mozambique. Phytotaxa 204 (2): 99-115, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.204.2.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.204.2.1
03B15315FFE0FFEDFF266CFCFBC7F6B1.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — MOZAMBIQUE. Inhambane: [precise locality withheld], growing on an annual floodplain close to a river on a raised sand mound, - 1 m, megastrobilus 26 / 04, Rousseau 1175 (holotype PRE, isotypes K, LMA, FTG, PRU [including liquid-preserved megasprophylls]). Habit emergent with stems 500 – 1500 [716] mm long. Leaf length (960 –) 1335 – 2080 [1404] mm; unarmed section of petiole length (0 –) 10 – 43 (65 – 125) [23] mm, number of spines (6 –) 8 – 12 (– 14). Median leaflets length × width × spacing: 100 – 165 (– 195) [145] mm × (20 –) 25 – 34 [29] mm × (15 –) 25 – 36 (– 42) [25] mm. Leaflet pairs 33 – 52 [41], veins 16 – 20 (30 – 42) [24]. Microstrobili yellow, rarely orange, length 430 – 500 [340] mm, circumference 215 – 310 [257] mm; peduncle length 218 – 315 [249] mm; microsporophyll median height 25 – 32 (– 43) [26] mm. Megastrobili yellow, rarely red, length (285 –) 303 – 430 (– 480) [360] mm, circumference (507 –) 575 – 675 (– 729) [609] mm; peduncle length 60 – 135 [86] mm, peduncle circumference 125 – 157 (– 180) [139] mm; megasporophylls distinctly discolourous, yellow outside, green internally, median megasporophyll height 58 – 62 [57] mm. Seedling leaflet width 8 – 13 [10] mm.	en	Rousseau, Philip, Vorster, Pieter J., Afonso, Abilio V., Van Wyk, Abraham E. (2015): Taxonomic notes on Encephalartos ferox (Cycadales: Zamiaceae), with the description of a new subspecies from Mozambique. Phytotaxa 204 (2): 99-115, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.204.2.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.204.2.1
03B15315FFE0FFEDFF266CFCFBC7F6B1.taxon	distribution	Distribution and habitat: — This represents the most northerly distribution of the species, as fieldwork as far north as Baia de Sofala in Mozambique has not yielded any specimens. The subspecies is restricted to a single population consisting of two concentrations of individuals separated by ca. 1 km, although the habitat is homogeneous. It is separated from the nearest population of E. ferox subsp. ferox to the south by ca. 80 km and E. hildebrandtii to the north by ca. 2000 km. Encephalartos ferox subsp. emersus occurs in Vegetation type 44 (Wild & Barbosa 1968), namely Deciduous Tree Savanna with Palms (badly drained lowland, Fig. 2). This vegetation type is found on poorly drained lowland, sublittoral zones as a result of water flowing from the undulation elevations of old quaternary dunes alternation with calcareous plains. Rainfall ca. 800 mm per annum. Outskirts are tree savanna dominated by Brachystegia spiciformis, and Pterocarpus angolensis de Candolle (1825: 419) amongst others. Floodplains are dominated by Phoenix reclinata Jacquin (1809: 27), Hyphaene crinita Gaertner (1790: 13), with pools and swamps interspersed, dominated by Phragmites communis Trinius (1822: 134), Nymphaea nouchali Burman (1768: 120), and Cyperus Linnaeus (1753: 44) species, while grasslands have irregular patches of several Paniceae and Andropogoneae grasses, with infrequent bare areas with Sarcocornia tegetaria Steffen, Mucina & Kadereit (2009: 453). Encephalartos ferox subsp. emersus is restricted in this vegetation type to circular soil mounds (Fig. 2 A) originating from giant termitaria (Complex 13 of Barbosa 1952) raised above the floodplain with its permanent ponds (Fig. 2 B), with up to 20 individuals per mound. These mounds show clear successional vegetation patterns correlated with mound age and size starting with Phoenix reclinata and Hyphaene crinita, later including species such as a member of maculate Aloe Linnaeus (1753: 319), Erythrina humeana Sprengel (1826: 243), and finally large trees such as species of Euclea Linnaeus (1774: 747) and some of the adjacent savanna elements (Fig. 2 B). Elevation - 10 – 8 m with the soils grey and sandy. Literature citation: — Rousseau & Mann (2012). Iconography citation: — Rousseau & Mann (2012: 25): figures 18 – 23. Taxonomic notes: — See Table 1. In the diagnosis above, E. ferox subsp. emersus is also compared with E. hildebrandtii. This may raise the question whether our new taxon should not rather have been described as an infraspecific taxon of E. hildebrandtii. Is it not perhaps of hybrid origin, maybe even an allopolyploid involving E. ferox and E. hildebrandtii? Subsp. emersus is located about 2000 km south from the nearest known populations of E. hildebrandtii, thus genetic exchange between populations of E. ferox and E. hildebrandtii is highly unlikely, at least in relatively recent evolutionary times. This is supported as molecular evidence place E. ferox and E. hildebrandtii in different lineages (Treutlein et al. 2005, Rousseau 2012). Encephalartos ferox. subsp. ferox has proved very difficult to hybridise with other members of the genus (Vorster, unpublished data; though E. hildebrandtii has not been tested); we would suspect subsp. emersus to behave similarly. Hitherto polyploidy has not been reported in cycads (Gorelick & Olson 2011), making an allopolyploid origin for subsp. emersus unlikely. The reasons for making the new taxon a subspecies of E. ferox is due to geographic proximity, and the considerable similarity in leaflet and cone morphology. Moreover, the red cones rarely encountered in subsp. emersus would support a close phylogenetic association with E. ferox and not E. hildebrandtii. We mainly make mention of the vegetative similarity with E. hildebrandtii to aid in ex situ identification where geographic data are absent. Phenology: — Strobili found dehiscent / receptive as early as (day / month): 28 / 02, 02 / 03, 13 / 03 with most strobili still immature, to 12 / 04 with most of the colony mature, to as late as 27 / 04 where most of the microstrobili are spent. Seed dehiscence is still to be observed but speculated to be around September based on circumstantial evidence and interviews with local people. Fauna: — Two species of Coleoptera are associated with strobili during pollen shedding and are consistent with other pollinators of Encephalartos namely Porthetes sp. and a species of Erotylidae. Relationship with those found on E. ferox subsp. ferox has yet to be established. Damaged leaflets would also suggest the presence of Lepidoptera known to be associated with the genus. Seed coats are routinely eaten, most probably by birds and small mammals as is the case in the rest of the genus. Dispersal is very poor with many seeds never leaving the parental crown and thick stands germinating under parents.	en	Rousseau, Philip, Vorster, Pieter J., Afonso, Abilio V., Van Wyk, Abraham E. (2015): Taxonomic notes on Encephalartos ferox (Cycadales: Zamiaceae), with the description of a new subspecies from Mozambique. Phytotaxa 204 (2): 99-115, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.204.2.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.204.2.1
03B15315FFE0FFEDFF266CFCFBC7F6B1.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — Subspecific epithet derived from the Latin emersus, meaning “ standing above ” or “ raised up ”, in reference to the emergent stems as well as the vegetated soil mounds raised above the surrounding floodplains on which the plants grow. Additional specimens examined (paratypes): — MOZAMBIQUE. Type locality: Rousseau & Mann 29 – 32, Rousseau & Mann 34 – 47, Rousseau & Mann 50 – 55 (PRU), Rousseau 1130 B (PRU), Rousseau 1175 – 1183 (PRU), Rousseau 1250 – 1256 (PRU). Conservation status: — Subsp. emersus does not occur in a protected area and illegal collecting has increased over a three year survey period with some of the removed material traced back to the nearby town’s tourist lodges. Large mature individuals are removed and seem to perform poorly in cultivation. The population size is estimated at 15 individuals per mound, with 70 mounds in the area of occurrence equaling> 1000 mature individuals. Area of occurrence is 0.13 km ², area of occupancy is 0.05886 km ². As the subspecies occurs in a single locality where any stochastic event can eradicate the entire subspecies, and continued pressure from illegal collection is probable, we suggest the IUCN Red List rank of Critically Endangered A 4 d + B 1 a, b (v) + B 2 a, b (v).	en	Rousseau, Philip, Vorster, Pieter J., Afonso, Abilio V., Van Wyk, Abraham E. (2015): Taxonomic notes on Encephalartos ferox (Cycadales: Zamiaceae), with the description of a new subspecies from Mozambique. Phytotaxa 204 (2): 99-115, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.204.2.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.204.2.1
