Cycas cairnsiana

The stems grow to 2-5 m tall and 12-16 cm diameter, with swollen base. The leaves are dark orange-brown tomentose on emerging, then glaucous blue-green and glabrous with age, 60-110 cm long, bowed, keeled, pinnate, with 180-220 leaflets, the leaflets 8-18 cm long and 2-4 mm wide. The petioles are 18-27 cm long, and armed with sharp spines.

Cycas cairnsiana is a species of cycad in the genus Cycas, native to northern Australia in northern Queensland on the Newcastle Range. The stems grow to 2-5 m tall and 12-16 cm diameter, with swollen base. The leaves are dark orange-brown tomentose on emerging, then glaucous blue-green and glabrous with age, 60-110 cm long, bowed, keeled, pinnate, with 180-220 leaflets, the leaflets 8-18 cm long and 2-4 mm wide. The petioles are 18-27 cm long, and armed with sharp spines. More

Cycas cairnsiana has very glaucous blue, keeled leaves, which emerge with a fuzzy coating, and develop a waxy texture with age, becoming recurved. Commonly known as "Mount Surprise Blue", this plant became so popular with collectors, there are severe restrictions on wild collection of seeds or plants. More