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Cycads
Chigua |
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The Cycad Pages |
Habitat:
Both members of the genus Chigua are endemic to Cordoba in northern Colombia
where they occur together in lowland tropical rainforest/savannah transition
at 100-200m above sea level in rich organic soils.
General:
The genus Chigua appears to be closely related to Zamia based on their
general morphology and cone structure but differ in that Chigua has a
protruding midrib on the leaflets. Whether the genus Chigua is truly made up
of two species is a subject of debate, as they were divided solely based on
differences of leaflet width and length, and Chigua bernalii was described
without viewing female cones. Plants collected in the same locality show
considerable variation in leaflet shape, so it is possible that the two
Chigua species constitute one variable species.
Chigua is critically endangered because the Urra Dam over the Sinu river has flooded 7400 hectares of its prime habitat, and although a few plants were rescued and sent to botanical gardens, the conservation status for Chigua is bleak. Both members are considered critically endangered and are listed in appendix I of CITES.
Michael Calonje (from Cycads of Columbia CD)
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