Cycas cairnsiana
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycas_cairnsiana
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Cycas cairnsiana faces significant pressure from habitat destruction due to urban development and agricultural expansion around Cairns, Queensland. The species is particularly vulnerable to collection for the horticultural trade, as cycads are highly prized ornamental plants. Fire regimes altered by human activity pose an additional threat, as this cycad requires specific fire intervals for successful regeneration.
Habitat
This cycad is endemic to the wet tropical lowlands near Cairns in northeastern Queensland, Australia, where it grows in open eucalyptus woodlands and forest margins. It typically occurs on well-drained soils in areas that experience seasonal rainfall patterns characteristic of the region's monsoonal climate.